Cheera /Thoran(Stir Fried Amaranth Leaves With Crushed Coconut)

Today I am sharing the recipe of Cheera/red spinach thoran.Cheera is an excellent source of many vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.It is available in different colours and textures.In Kerala we have the purple coloured kerala spinach with thin leaves.It has less water content and less nutrition when compared to palak(spinach)or amaranth leaves.

Many delicious side dishes and snacks can be prepared from cheera,among these cheera avial,cheera thoran,cheera pachadi and cheera cutlet are the most popular dishes.

Cheera Thoran Kerala Style

Here is the Recipe!!
Ingredients:

• Cheera/red spinach-1 bunch
• Grated coconut-1/2 cup
• Shallots/small onions-5-7
• Garlic-1-2 pods,finely chopped
• Green chilies-3-5,chopped finely(as per the spice level)
• Turmeric powder-a  couple of pinches
• Coconut oil-as required
• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
• Salt to taste

Cheera Thoran Kerala Style

Method:

• Wash cheera/red spinach thoroughly and keep it in a strainer to remove the water completely.Chop it finely.
• Crush the grated coconut along with 2-3 small onions,2 green chilies,turmeric powder without adding water.  keep aside.
• Heat coconut oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Add chopped small onions, garlic,green chilies and saute for few minutes.
• Add chopped leaves and mix well.Stir for few minutes on a high flame.
• Add crushed coconut mixture to this and add salt,stir and cook on a high flame until all the water evaporates and thoran becomes dry.

NOTES:

• Do not overcook red spinach leaves.Drain off water completely and cook.
• Add less coconut than the measurement of cheera/ spinach leaves.
• We can cook thoran without grinding the coconut mix also.Saute chopped onion,garlic,green chilies and add grated coconut at the end.  

Cheera Thoran /Red Spinach Stir Fry With Coconut

Serve warm as a side dish along with Rice.....

Happy Cooking!!!