Broccoli Thoran(Stir Fry with coconut)

I have never liked the taste of Broccoli-or does it have any taste?! After reading about the innumerable nutritional values of this vegetable I tried many ways in incorporating this into our diet but didn't work. I tried steaming and cooking this with other Indian spices but all these hardly helped in satisfying our taste buds. I guess some of you reading this would be able to identify yourselves with this situation. Well our aversion took a plunge for good after a visit to one of our friends' house where we were served a traditional Kerala meal with rice, curry and various varieties of thoran(a vegetable stir fry with ground coconut mixture). Among these was Broccoli thoran and for the first time I started liking Broccoli. Hence this became a frequent side dish from then on.

To make this dish cut each broccoli floret into smaller florets and continue this process until you reach the smallest floret so that the whole broccoli when cut gives a minced appearance. This is then later on added to sauteed onions and ground coconut as explained below. The use of small onions(shallots) rather than big onions gives an added taste to this dish.

Ingredients:

3 large broccoli florets

9 shallots(small onions) chopped

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

2 dry red chillies broken into halves

Salt to taste

Coconut oil for cooking

To be ground together:

1/4-1/3 rd cup grated coconut

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

2 garlic cloves

3/4 tsp cumin seeds

Method:

• Cut each broccoli floret into small florets and continue this process till each broccoli has been cut into tiny pieces. Keep aside.
• Grind the ingredients to be ground as mentioned above adding water to a smooth paste. Keep aside.
• In a pan heat 1 tbsp oil at medium heat and splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and chillies and saute for few seconds.
• Add chopped onions and saute till it turns medium brown.
• Add chopped broccoli and saute for few seconds.
• Add ground mixture, salt and mix well.
• Reduce heat to low and cook with a closed lid.

Pooja.

Other Side Dishes: