We can make cabbage thoran as vegetarian dish and non-vegetarian one. Vegetarian one is in inevitable part of Kerala Sadya and is often served in different ways in different parts of the state. Here I am giving you the recipe of this dish prepared in southern districts of the state, particularly Thiruvananthapuram. It is really a time consuming one, if done at home can take 1 hour or more. The other one I am presenting is an egg added Thoran recipe. Hoping you will try both of them. Both of them serves best with boiled rice.
Cabbage thoran - Without egg
Ingredients:
Cabbage finely cut into pieces - 3 cups
Scrapped coconut - 1 cup
Cumin seeds - 1/2-1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Garlic - 3 cloves
Shallots finely chopped - 2 or 3
Green chillies finely chopped - 2
Ginger - a small piece finely cut into pieces
Urad daal as whole - A handful
Salt - As needed
Red chillies cut into 2-3 pieces - 2 or 3
Curry leaves - 3 sticks
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Coconut oil - As needed.
Method of preparation:
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds to it. When it splutters add urad daal and red chillies to it and fry till it turns brown colour. Add curry leaves to it.
Add cabbage, green chillies, salt, ginger and shallots to it. After 5 minutes, add turmeric powder and reduce the flame. Fry it till it turns brown colour. Stir occasionally. It may take almost 45 minutes. If you are using high flame, you can do it within lesser time. Cabbage will reduce to almost 1/3 rd.
Take a mixer. Add coconut, chilli powder, cumin seeds, garlic and a little curry leaves and blend it once.
Add this mixture to cabbage and fry it well for more 15-20 minutes minimum.
If we are frying it for more time in low flame, it tastes best. It will be dark brown in colour.
Your cabbage thoran is ready to serve and it can be prepared on special occasions.
Cabbage thoran - With egg
Ingredients:
Cabbage finely cut into pieces - 1 cup
Egg - 1
Green chillies - 2
Crushed pepper - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - As needed
Finely scrapped coconut - 1/2 cup
Coconut oil - A little
Red chillies - 1 or 2 cut into 2 pieces
Onion small sized cut into pieces - 1
Curry leaves - A little
Method of preparation:
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and red chillies. When it splutters, add curry leaves to it.
Add cabbage, onion, green chillies and salt. Sprinkle a little water, stir well and cook it for 7-8 minutes. Stir occasionally.
When cabbage is cooked, add an egg to it and stir well. Then add crushed pepper powder and coconut and keep stirring for 5-7 more minutes.
Your thoran will be ready to serve.
Note: You can also use cauliflower as substitute of cabbage. Cauliflower should be finely chopped.