Cooking, generally, is not much of a forte for a newly married girl, so was it with me. Most of the dishes which I used to cook were on trial and error basis, which eventually later on became successful cooking (thanks to my hubby, for being my support and eating whatever I cooked). So in the initial year of marriage, when my in-laws gave us a surprise visit, I got all nervous and panicky as to what to prepare for them.
I hardly had any vegetables in stock; being just the two of us veggies were stocked only once a week. This sudden visit put me in a delicate situation. Thankfully my mother-in-law understood my predicament. As none of the vegetables were enough to make a dish by itself, she suggested rice,dal and the dish ‘Thoran’, with whatever veggies were available. I savour this dish even till today. It helps, when I have to clear my stock of veggies.
The few vegetables in hand, when tossed together, will give out a lovely blend of taste, colour and satisfaction. The ‘Vegetable Thoran’ is ‘a’ must served dish in the extensive and delectable array of dishes during the Onam Festival (a Festival of Kerala).
Ingredients
- Cauliflower— 200 gm
- Carrots— 200 gm
- Beans- 200 gm
- Onions- 50 gm(finely chopped)
- Coconut — 2 tbsp(grated)
- Coconut oil- 1 ½ tbsp
- Mustard seeds- 5gm
- Curry leaves- a few
- Red chilli(whole) 3-4
- Salt to taste
Method
- Chop the cauliflower into small florets and cut the carrots and beans into 1 inch long dices. Blanch the cauliflower, carrots, and the beans.
- Heat coconut oil in a pan; add mustard seeds, whole red chillies and chopped onions. Cook till the onions are transparent.
- Add curry leaves followed by beans, carrots, cauliflower.
- Sauté them well and add the grated coconut.
- Add salt and mix well.
- This dish is served mainly as an accompaniment with rice. The same can be served with rotis and dal too.
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4