Cabbage Thoran is a quick Kerala style stir fry made with cabbage, coconut and basic spices. It is one of the must side dish in Sadya menu. If you are looking for a simple yet comforting side dish this cabbage thoran is perfect to go with both variety rice and meals. It is whole some and gets done quickly, so do try and enjoy!
Cabbage Thoran has become our favourite ever since I started making it. I learnt this simple Kerala style stir fry from my friend. Most of the Kerala dishes recipes I post here are from her. Cabbage Thoran can be made in numerous ways and this is my take on it and have been making it since years as it is our family favourite.
Jump to:
About Cabbage Thoran
Cabbage Thoran is a dry side dish basically a simple stir fry made with cabbage, sauteed with coarse grind fresh coconut mixture along with other spices. Thoran also called 'upperi' is a simple stir fry made with vegetables of your choice and here I have used cabbage. You can use any vegetable of your choice that will suit stir fry.
Cabbage Thoran is usually prepared as a part of Onam Sadya menu. Sadya is a feast prepared by Keralites for all occasions including onam, vishu, birthdays or any family special occasions. This thoran is one of the comfort food that I love to have with parippu curry.
Cabbage Thoran is served along with rice, sambar or parippu curry.The combo of hot rice with parippu curry and thoran is an unbeatable combo. Thoran is one of the must side dish in the the Kerala feast called 'Sadya'. Traditionally coconut oil is used for thoran which gives a great flavour and taste.
I love cabbage thoran with rice and parippu curry but tastes good with sambar, rasam too. You can make plain cabbage thoran or add carrots along with cabbage to make carrot cabbage thoran.
Similar Recipes
Cabbage Thoran Video
Cabbage Thoran Ingredients
- Cabbage - Shred cabbage thin else chop them finely. You can even chop it lengthwise or in small cubes.
- Coconut - Use freshly grated or cut coconut. Measure and grind it with onion, garlic, green chilies and cumin seeds.
- Cumin seeds - adds great flavor and taste.
- Green chilies - added for spice, increase or decrease as per your liking.
- Onion, garlic - Use small onion for grinding as it adds more flavour. Garlic is optional but it enhances the taste of this thoran so I recommend adding.
- Coconut oil - Coconut oil is best to use for this stir fry.
- Mustard seeds - is used for tempering, let it splutter well then proceed with other steps.
- Red chilli - is used for tempering along with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Curry leaves - is added for flavour, the addition of curry leaves in coconut oil tastes great in this stir fry.
How to make Cabbage Thoran Step by Step
1.Grate cabbage - thin shreds as shown below. Measure 3 cups and set aside.
2.To a mixer jar : add ½ cup coconut, 10 small onion, 4 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 2 green chilli.
3.Grind it coarsely without adding any water. Set aside.
4.To a kadai heat coconut oil - add 2 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds let it splutter. Then add 2 small red chilli, few curry leaves. Let it splutter.
5.Once it splutters add cabbage along with salt to taste and ½ teaspoon turmeric powder.
6.Saute for few minutes.
7.Add 1 cup water to it.
8.Cook covered for 10-12 minutes.
9.Cook until cabbage turn transparent and slightly soft. Check if cabbage is cooked by pressing it - if it is soft then its cooked else cook for few more minutes.
10.Once cabbage is cooked, add prepared coconut mixture.
11.Mix well. Keep sauteing and cook until raw smell leaves. Cook at least for 5 minutes. Once raw smell leaves mix well and switch off. Cabbage thoran is ready.
Serve with rice and curry of your choice.
Expert Tips
- Cabbage cutting - You can chop cabbage finely or shred it using a slicer for long strips. I usually make it this way.
- Cooking cabbage - Cook covered with only mentioned quantity of water, do not be tempted to add more. You can sprinkle more water as and when needed.
- Spice - I have added 2 green chilies and 2 small red chilies. You can increase or decrease as per your liking and preference.
- Oil - Adding coconut oil gives a great flavor to the curry.
- Adding coconut - Always make sure to add coconut only after the veggies are cooked.
- Replacement - You can replace cabbage with beetroot, beans, green moong dal etc. You can add carrot along with cabbage too.
- Onion, garlic - You can either grind onion, garlic along with coconut or add it while sauteing.
Serving & Storage
Serve Cabbage Thoran as a side dish with rice. You can even serve it with chapati, roti too it tastes great. This keeps well in fridge for 2 days.
FAQS
1.What is thoran?
Thoran is a traditional Kerala-style stir-fry dish made with finely chopped vegetables like carrot, cabbage, greens, beans, beetroot etc with coconut, basic mild spices. It's a dry side dish typically served with rice and curry.
2.What other vegetables can I use for thoran?
You can use beetroot, beans, spinach, drumstick, carrot, potato for making thoran. You can even use green gram dal or black chana for making thoran.
3.Can I skip coconut oil?
Yes you can replace coconut oil with regular cooking oil. Coconut oil adds more flavor to the dish so I recommend adding it.
4.Can I cabbage thoran without coconut?
Yes but in thoran coconut is the one of the main ingredients so I recommend not to skip it. Thoran without coconut will be very mild and bland.
5.Can I use purple cabbage replacing green cabbage?
Yes you can replace green cabbage with purple cabbage but colour and flavour will differ. Traditionally green cabbage is used for making cabbage thoran in Onam Sadya Meal.
If you have any more questions about this Cabbage Thoran Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Cabbage Thoran Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Cabbage Thoran Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups cabbage shredded
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 cup water
- salt to taste
- ½ cup coconut
To grind to a coarse mixture:
- 10 small onion
- 4 garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 green chillies
To temper:
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 small red chilies
- few curry leaves
Instructions
- Grate cabbage - thin shreds as shown below. Measure 3 cups and set aside.
- To a mixer jar : add ½ cup coconut, 8 small onion, 4 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 2 green chili.
- Grind it coarsely without adding any water. Set aside.
- To a kadai heat coconut oil - add 2 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds let it splutter. Then add 2 small red chili, few curry leaves. Let it splutter.
- Once it splutters add cabbage along with salt to taste and ½ teaspoon turmeric powder.
- Saute for few minutes.
- Add 1 cup water to it.
- Cook covered for 10-12 minutes.
- Cook until cabbage turn transparent and slightly soft. Check if cabbage is cooked by pressing it - if it is soft then its cooked else cook for few more minutes.
- Once cabbage is cooked, add prepared coconut mixture.
- Mix well.Keep sauteing and cook until raw smell leaves. Cook at least for 5 minutes. Once raw smell leaves mix well and switch off. Cabbage thoran is ready.
- Serve with rice and curry of your choice.
Video
Notes
- Cabbage cutting - You can chop cabbage finely or shred it using a slicer for long strips. I usually make it this way.
- Cooking cabbage - Cook covered with only mentioned quantity of water, do not be tempted to add more. You can sprinkle more water as and when needed.
- Spice - I have added 2 green chilies and 2 small red chilies. You can increase or decrease as per your liking and preference.
- Oil - Adding coconut oil gives a great flavor to the curry.
- Adding coconut - Always make sure to add coconut only after the veggies are cooked.
- Replacement - You can replace cabbage with beetroot, beans, green moong dal etc. You can add carrot along with cabbage too.
- Onion, garlic - You can either grind onion, garlic along with coconut or add it while sauteing.
Leave a Reply