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 - It is whole some and gets done quickly, so do try and enjoy! Learn to make the best cabbage thoran with step by step pictures and video.
Cabbage Thoran has become my family favorite ever since I started making it. I learnt this simple Kerala style stir fry from my friend. Most of the Kerala dishes recipes are from here. Cabbage Thoran can be made in numerous ways and I have shared 2 variations here one with carrot and other a simple version with just cabbage.
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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. Tis toran 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 in the the Kerala feast called 'Sadya'. Traditionally coconut oil is used for thoran which gives a great flavor and taste.
I love cabbage thoran with rice and parippu curry but tastes good with sambar too. You can make plain cabbage thoran or add carrots along with cabbage to make carrot cabbage thoran as I have made. I have shared both the recipes here, choose your pick.
Cabbage Thoran Video
Cabbage Thoran 2 ways
I have shared 2 recipes of Cabbage Thoran :
- Cabbage thoran
- Cabbage thoran with carrots
The recipe remains the same just that the addition of carrots makes it look more colorful and tastes great too.
Similar Recipes
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 flavor. Garlic is optional but it enhances the taste of this thoran.
- Tempering - Mustard seeds, red chili, curry leaves are tempered in coconut oil.
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 chili.
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 chili, 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 tastes great. This keeps well in fridge for 1 day.
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 color and flavor will differ. Traditionally green cabbage is used for making cabbage thoran in Onam Sadya Meal.
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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.
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