Category: Simple Stir Fries

This preparation is best out of waste. The peel of Raw Banana which is high in nutrients is finely chopped and seasoned. Seasoning depends on one’s choice, but the authentic one calls for use of onions. It tastes good without them too, and goes well with Rice or Roti.

Ingredients :

• Peel of three Raw Bananas
• 2 onions
• 2 tbsps grated coconut
• A pinch of Haldi/Turmeric
• 3 green chillies
• 1/4 tsp Jeera/Cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp Mustard
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• Salt

Method :

Wash and chop the Raw Banana Peel thinly. Slice the onions. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard and after it splutters add the curry leaves and sliced onions. Add salt and roast till translucent. Add the chopped peel and stir fry on a gentle flame. Grind the coconut, green chillies and Cumin seeds to a coarse paste. Tip it along with Turmeric into the onion and peel mixture. Cook till done. Serve hot.

This stir fry goes well with Rice as well as Roti because of the generous use of onions in this recipe. Simple but flavourful. I have tried making it without the onions too, but prefer the ones with the fragrance of lightly sautéed onions.

Ingredients :

• 200 gms Okra/Bhindi/Vendakka
• 2 large onions
• 1 tbsp Kashmiri Chilly powder
• 1/4 tsp Haldi/Turmeric powder
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• Salt
• 2 tbsps oil
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2 tbsps grated coconut

Method :

Wash and, pat dry the Okra. Snip off ends and chop fine. Slice the onions thinly. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard and after it splutters add the onions, garlic, curry leaves and salt. Roast till the onions turn translucent. Add the chilly and turmeric powders. Sauté for a few seconds. Add the Okra and stir fry till done on a gentle flame. Garnish with coconut and serve hot.

Thoran is essentially a Keralite synonym for a stir fry. A dash of coconut oil is used to season the vegetable. Ginger and onion may or may not be used in the seasoning depending on one’s preference. It is usually garnished with coconut.

Ingredients :

• 200 gms French Beans
• 1 inch piece of ginger
• 2 green chillies
• 1 tsp Coconut oil
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• Salt
• 2 tbsps Coconut

Method :

String the French Beans and wash them. Chop them into desired size. Mince the chillies and grate the ginger. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard and after it splutters add the green chillies, curry leaves and ginger. Toss. Add the French Beans and salt. Mix well. Sprinkle a little water and stir fry on a gentle flame till done. Garnish with coconut.

Stir fries are a common accompaniment to Rice in South India. They are known as Upkari, Thoran, Poriyal and Vepadu depending on the region where they come from. This is a simple and delicious Stir Fry made of Carrots which is called Thoran in Kerala.

Ingredients :

• 200 gms Carrot
• 3 tbsps grated Coconut
• 2 green chillies
• 1 small onion
• 1 tsp Coconut oil
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 1 sprig Curry leaves
• Salt

Method :

Peel the Carrot, wash and grate it. Mince the green chillies. Chop onions fine. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard and after it splutters add the chillies, onion and curry leaves. Roast till the onions are translucent. Add the grated carrot, salt and coconut . Toss on a high flame for a minute and serve immediately.

A variety of dishes can be made from Red Cowpeas also known as Lal Chowli or Tambdi Alsandya Bee. Stir fries, Coconut based Gravies, Chaat, Soup, the list goes on. Posting a simple stir fry today.

Ingredients

• 125 gms Lal Chowli / Red Cowpeas
• 5 dry red chillies broken into bits
• A large pinch of Hing/asafoetida
• Grated coconut for garnish
• 2 tbsps Coconut oil
• 1 tsp mustard
• Salt

Method :

Wash and pressure cook the Red Cowpeas with salt. Heat oil in a pan. Add a tsp of mustard and after it splutters add the broken red chilly bits. Toss. Drop in the cooked Lal Chowli. Boil well till all the water is absorbed. Tip in the Hing. Garnish with coconut. Keep aside for ten minutes for the flavours to infuse before serving.