Cabbage thoran recipe with step by step photos. I make cabbage thoran as a side dish whenever I make Kerala sambar with some steamed rice. A combo which was often made at my home.
Cabbage thoran or cabbage fry is a dry vegetable dish made in Kerala cuisine. Thoran is basically finely chopped or grated vegetables cooked with shallots, chilies, fresh grated coconut and spices.
Instead of cabbage other veggies like beans, beetroot, ash gourd, drumsticks, spinach and amaranth can be used.
Cabbage thoran is an important side dish in Kerala feast known as Sadya. thoran is usually eaten along with steamed rice. I cook the thoran in a different way than what is traditionally done. I just fry & saute the ingredients one by one and then add the cabbage.
Traditionally except the oil and a few spices, all the ingredients are mixed with the cabbage and allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes. Whichever way you make, since cabbage and coconut is an awesome combination, the thoran always tastes damn good.
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How to make cabbage fry or cabbage thoran
1. Rinse the cabbage and shred or grate it. You can also slice the cabbage thinly.
2. Heat coconut oil in a pan or kadai.
3. First add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and saute till they crackle.
4. Now add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and saute them till they change color.
5. Add the chopped shallots or onion.
6. Saute till translucent.
7. Add 1 green chilli (chopped) and curry leaves. Saute for a minute.
8. Now add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing). mix very well.
9. Add the cabbage. Also add salt as required.
10. Mix very well and saute for a minute.
11. Cover the pan with a tight lid and cook the cabbage on a low flame or sim.
12. In between do check after every 4 to 5 minutes and give a stir. if the cabbage starts sticking to the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle some water all over. Cover with a tight lid and cook again.
13. On a low flame, cook till the cabbage is tender. if there is any moisture in the pan, then cook further till all the moisture dries up.
14. Once the cabbage is cooked and done, then add ½ cup fresh grated coconut.
15. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
16. You can garnish cabbage thoran with coriander leaves if you want.
Serve the cabbage thoran hot with some steamed rice or chapati.
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Cabbage Thoran
By Dassana Amit
Ingredients
- 1 medium sized cabbage
- 1 medium sized onion or 4 to 5 shallots - finely chopped
- 10 to 12 curry leaves
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) - optional
- 1 green chili, chopped
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ cup grated coconut - fresh or frozen
- 1 or 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- salt as required
- coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
Instructions
preparation
- Rinse the cabbage and shred or grate it. you can also slice the cabbage thinly.
- Also chop the shallots or onion.
making cabbage thoran
- Heat the coconut oil in a pan or kadai.
- First add the mustard seed and saute till they crackle.
- Now add the cumin and saute them till they change color.
- Add the chopped shallots or onion. Saute till translucent.
- Add the green chilli and curry leaves and saute for a minute.
- Now add the turmeric powder and asafoetida (hing). Mix very well.
- Lastly add the cabbage and salt. Stir and saute for a minute.
- Cover the pan and on a low flame let the cabbage cook. Just continue to stir at times.
- Steam cook till the cabbage is tender.
- If there is any moisture in the pan, then cook further till all the moisture dries up.
- When the cabbage is cooked, add the coconut. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.
- You can garnish it with coriander leaves if you want.
- Serve the cabbage thoran hot with some steamed rice or chapati.
Nutrition Info Approximate values
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Dassana Mam Can I use chopped cabbage?
Yes, you can use chopped cabbage instead of shredded cabbage.
Tried this today, easy, quick , yummy and filling recipe : ) Thank you Dassana!
welcome tanusha and thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for this recipe, we followed it exactly and served it as a side to a chicken curry. We really enjoyed it 🙂
Welcome Sue. Glad to know that you liked the recipe.
Thanks for simple, yet delicious recipe…. I omited coconut as my husband don’t like coconut flavor…. Still it taste good..
pleased to know this farida 🙂 thankyou for your positive words glad you liked them.
Your recipes are awesome and easy to cook.
Frankly speaking , your recipes have aroused my forgotten interest in cooking.
🙂
thank a lot sumi.
Very very thanks for this recipe. I tried it and loved it!
?which onion is used in recipe…. Small ya big?
welcome premji. i don’t recollect. but i think i used medium sized onions as mentioned in recipe box.
Lovely! My husband doesn’t like cabbage too much, but he liked it when I used this recipe.
thanks sari for sharing positive feedback. good to know this.
Could you mention when you add the curry leaves to the recipe ?
thanks bharat for pointing this out. you can add curry leaves with green chilli. i have updated this in recipe too.
Seems yumm! Is coconut oil a must for thoran? Any other oil will not taste as good?
coconut oil gives very good taste and flavor. if you don’t have coconut oil then you can use any other oil.
love ur oval shaped bowl..this thoran is my fave and i love it with sambhaar..specially kadoo sambhaar..:)
this oval shaped bowl is made from stone and from manipuri pottery. i hardly use it. basically its a serving platter. same here. cabbage or any veg thoran is a fav with sambar.
thanks renu
I love this and sambar combo… nice recipe