Sunday, August 22, 2010

Thaalu Thoran/Taro Stem Sauteed with coconut and spices

  Thaalu thoran is made out of Colocasia stem.  Have you heard of this one before?  I am asking because my friend from Kottayam (my home town) says she has never had this before. You should, if you haven't.  The thaalu and deep friend rice grains together gives this thoran a nice crunchy texture.  I hope I could explain the taste better.

  Everyone at home know how much I like this one.  Not so easily available in the US my sweetest granny made sure I had enough.  She made up for all the missed times.  Oh! she is quite old now and she spoils me.

  Back to the recipe.  It is quite simple.  Though rare you can buy the stems in Chinese super markets in the US.  Exorbitantly priced when the urge hits I indulge.   This used to happen especially when I was carrying my son.  Now, you will agree those are times when you can just let go. I have to say this in closing you need no  excuses to spend on this one.  Once you taste it I guarantee you will go back for more thaalu.

thaalu thoran

Ingredients:

Stem of colocasia/Taro/thaalu- 4
Cocnut grated- 1/3 cup
Green Chillies- 2-3
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Salt

For seasoning:

Raw rice- 3 Tbsp
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil/Any cooking oil- 1 Tbsp
Shallots- 2-3,chopped finely
Curry leaves- 1 sprig
Dried red chillies- 2

thaalu thoran

Method:

1.Chop the stem finely into slender pieces.Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water and salt over it and squeeze out this completely to remove the juices from the stem that cause itching.This also keeps the thoran dry and crisp rather than mushy.(You could apply some cooking oil on both your palms,or wear some disposable gloves so that it will not make you itchy !)
2.Heat the oil in a pan and do the seasoning starting with mustard seeds.Once they splutter add the rice into it and let it brown slightly. Trow in the shallots and red chillies and saute for a couple of minutes or until the shallots turn brown.Now saute the curry leaves too
3.Meanwhile grind the coconut and green chillies coarsely.
4.Throw in the chopped stem and coconut mixture along with turmeric and salt into the seasoning and cover to cook on low heat. Stir every 2-3 minutes until it is cooked. This won't take more than 5-6 minutes.
5.Keep the pan open and let all the moisture get absorbed.Serve warm with pulissery or sambar .

2010_06_09 for blog

These pictures of Taro is from my father's vegetable garden.As a child (and also now) I love to see the water droplets on a taro leaf :-)

Contributor: Namitha

40 comments:

  1. the clicks r awesome...loved the recipe too....

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  2. Thoran looks hearty and thanks for posting the Taro pics from your Dad's garden. Hope you are getting ready for the grand festival. Eat lots of good food and a very Happy Onam to you and your family.

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  3. it looks absolutely beautiful and yummy

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  4. Interesting recipe. Must be very tasty too.

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  5. What a beautiful presentation. Love the Taro leaves pic as well.

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  6. Very interesting! I have never heard of this before. Thank you for sharing :).

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  7. Thallu thoran looks delicious. Amma used to make it. I am missing them.

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  8. Hey Gulmohar,
    What a beautiful blog you have!
    I havent tried curry with stems but taro plant leaves curry is quite popular in my home!
    Wonderful clicks & a healthy recipe!
    Keep in touch

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  9. I have never tried this, but it sounds and looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing it:)

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  10. very new recipe and love the pics .... treat to eyes and tummy I bet

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  11. new and different recipe.we make a similar one with banana stem

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  12. Nice recipe da..ente MIL undakum, pakshe njan ethuvare try cheythittilla!Will give a try.thx for sharing da.

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  13. ethukondu ente veetil amma 'chembin thandu olan 'undakum.thoran kazhichittila.adipoli da.Nadan dish oke poratte.Onam evide vare ayi?

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  14. chembin thalu thoran is my favorite...i miss my mom's thoran...i found colocasia leaves here...but not the stem

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  15. yea ente ammyum epolum undakkum Nami ethu. Enike atra eshtalla, but ettan okke valya fan anu ee thorante :-D
    Pics looks so so good, esp chembilayude

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  16. I'm colocasia-phobic due to it's itchiness. Anyway, love the dish!

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  17. Wow straight coming out from your Dad's garden!!!Beautiful pictures of this tasty dish
    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  18. Wow straight coming out from your Dad's garden!!!Beautiful pictures of this tasty dish
    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  19. thoran luks delicious,nice click...

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  20. I like the last photo, awesome. This thoran is new to me, but looks good.

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  21. That sounds new to me and interesting.

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  22. wow, lovely recipe, looks delish.

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  23. This is certainly new to me... lovely i have a new recipe to try!. Thnx for sharing.

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  24. Great recipe Namitha... Using rice in the seasoning is something I have never heard of before.

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  25. They must be very healthy! I remember I had some sweet potato leaves, and they were really good.

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  26. I love anything with taro, thoran looks very delicious..

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  27. wonderful click....very new recipe for me to know, thanks for sharing! :)

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  28. Great pictures! Njangalde ennathe post chena thandu thoran annu :) Njangalde aviduthe onam special thoran annu athu..Pinne ente ammayum thaalu thoran edakkide undakkarundu..Recipe similar annenne thonnunnu..

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  29. Nice recipe..me too love this looks yummy..Happy Onam.

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  30. Ayyo..enikku bhayankara ishtama ithu....adipoli!!!

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  31. I've never heard of a taro thoren...great idea though. I bet it was delicious with that coconut.
    Water on a taro leaf looks so pretty, doesn't it? Very bead-like, or maybe a bit like a pearl. My parents too grew some, here in California.

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  32. Thoran looks delicious, lovely pictures...

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  33. Lovely and a very authentic recipe.

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  34. Be careful using all kinds of thalu (one from the picture is not suitable for this), what we call as kannan chembu is ok but the other one like chima chembu make itching and reaction.

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  35. @Saji: Sure, you cannot use all kinds>I agree. The pictures are of the same plant, from my father's vegetable garden :-)If you apply some oil on both your palms, you will not get the itching. I will add this in the write up. Thanks for pointing out :-)

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  36. Thank you for this recipe. I just finished cooking n it came out well. I especially liked adding raw rice. It adds a peculiar taste n crunchiness. I added polished black gram seeds too after adding rice. Can't out well.

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