Cheera thoran or red spinach stir fry with coconut is a popular side dish for rice in Kerala. In Kerala, cheera, which is a variety of spinach is grown in the backyards or balconies of almost every household.
Cheera /Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; it is available in different colours (the most popular ones being the red and the green variety). Including greens in your family’s diet is a must, especially in your kid’s diet. This cheera thoran is very vegan and healthy, made with coconut and coconut oil. Sometimes I use shallots to bring in the authentic taste. The addition of raw rice to the oil makes it more flavourful. I am sure you will love this easy stir fry…..which is perfect with plain rice or chapatti.
Time to get started…
Ingredients
- 5 cups Cheera (Spinach) leaves
- 1 cup Coconut, grated
- 2 nos. Green chillies
- ½ tsp. Turmeric powder
- ½ tsp. Cumin seeds
- 2 tbsps. Coconut Oil
- 2 nos. Garlic pods
- 2 nos. Dry red chillies
- 2 tsp. Rice
- 2 tsp. Mustard seeds
- Salt, as required
- A sprig of Curry leaves
Method
- Clean the cheera leaves well with water and chop it finely.
- Grind together coconut, turmeric powder, green chillies, cumin seeds, garlic and curry leaves into a coarse form.
- Do not add water while grinding.
- Mix together the chopped cheera along with the coconut mixture and salt.
- Heat oil in a pan or a kadai.
- Splutter mustard seeds and sauté dry red chillies, rice and curry leaves.
- Add the cheera-coconut mixture and mix well.
- Cover and cook on a low flame for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid and continue cooking on a low flame till done.
- If it gets overcooked, it tends to lose its red colour. So, make sure you don’t overcook it.
- Cheera thoran is ready to be served.