Swiss Chard Thoran Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 bunch of Swiss Chard chopped finely
Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup (NOTE: flaked coconut will work)
Chopped Garlic - 2 cloves (or more to taste)
Chopped Green Chillies -2 or 3
Chopped Pearl Onion(Kunjulli) -4(You can also use onions ..eventhough Kunjulli tastes better)
Turmeric Powder -1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds -1 tsp
Urad dal -1/2 tsp (NOTE: these ingredients can be found in any Indian market, but are not strictly necessary; any small, split lentil would do as well)
Jeera -1/2 tsp (Jeera is cumin)
Curry leaves -1/2 tsp (NOTE: these you DEFINITELY have to get from a South Asian grocery, and I do not know of any substitute for their unique flavor, but again, this dish will be fine without them.)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together grated coconut,green chillies,turmeric powder,chopped onions & salt.Add chopped swiss chard into the mixture and mix well with hand.
Heat oil in a pan ,add mustard seeds to splutter.Then add Jeera,curry leaves and urad dal.When urad dal turns light brown add swiss chad into it and mix well.Simmer for 10 minutes.Cover it with lid and remember not to add water.But be sure to check in between ,otherwise it may stick to the bottom.Cooking without adding water is one way of healthy cooking.My amma used to cover the cooking pan with a plate or lid which contains some water.While cooking ,due to the moisture water droplets will form under the lid and will drip into the pan .This way you can prevent food from sticking to the bottom.Not only healthy,this type of cooking increases the taste tooo….:))You can use beetroot leaves also to cook this recipe.
Thanks to Judith Brighton at the Carlsbad CSA dropsite.
