Thoran is Kerala’s everyday stir-fry: finely chopped vegetables cooked with a coarsely crushed mix of coconut, green chilli and shallots, all tempered in coconut oil. Beans thoran is one of the most popular versions — quick to make, lightly spiced and full of fresh coconut flavour.
Ingredients
- 250 g French beans, very finely chopped
- ½ cup grated coconut
- 2 green chillies
- 2 shallots (or ¼ onion)
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- Salt to taste
- For the tempering: 1½ tbsp VedSaras Wood Press Virgin Coconut Oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp urad dal, 1 dried red chilli, a sprig of curry leaves
Method
- Pulse the coconut, green chillies, shallots, garlic, turmeric and cumin in a mixer — just crush coarsely; do not make a paste.
- Heat the coconut oil on medium. Add the mustard seeds; when they splutter, add the urad dal and cook until golden, then the red chilli and curry leaves.
- Add the beans and salt, sprinkle 2 tbsp water, cover and cook for 5–6 minutes until almost tender.
- Make a well in the centre, add the coconut mix and cover it with the beans. Cover the pan and let it steam for 2 minutes.
- Mix everything together and stir-fry, uncovered, for 2–3 minutes until dry. Serve with rice and dal or sambar.
Make it your own
- Swap the beans for cabbage, carrot, beetroot or raw banana — the method stays the same.
- Keep the heat at medium when tempering in virgin coconut oil.
Made with
VedSaras™ Wood Press Virgin Coconut Oil
Clear, with the gentle aroma of fresh coconut — slow-pressed in a wooden ghani. Available in 1000 ml and 500 ml.
View the oil
Leave a Reply