CHEERA THORAN

Hi, if i say' Chuvanna cheera or 'chenjeera', im sure that a small percentage only will understand what i am aiming, because that is a malayalam word and 'cheera' in malayalam means Spinach. I am telling about the Red Spinach- One of the favourite leafy vegetable of Kerala. Spinach , In India especially in Kerala (malayalam) it is called Cheera , in tamil it is called Keerai . In hindi, it is Palak. It is an edibile flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. Spinach is known as a rich source of iron and calcium. I am sure that now you are thinking about our favourite cartoon character, Popeye, the sailor man. Whenever he eat the spinach he become strong.......... he is eating the green one and i love the red spinach.

Today i will tell you about my two favourite dishes

Cheera Curry

Ingredients:-

Cheera (red spinach) - make it one kg
turmeric powder- a pinch

red chilly powder- 2 teaspoon

mango pieces- half mango(If mango is very very sour make it 1/4Th

5 teaspoon curd (If mango is not there)

salt- for taste

coconut grated and make a paste- half cup

1/4 cup water

curry leaves

1 teaspoon fresh coconut oil

Preparation:-

Wash cheera several times ( to wash leafy vegetables put a pinch of salt to Luke warm water, dip the vegetables in it, it will be very clear). Chop the leaves, stem(tender stems). Take a vessel, keep it on fire, add the chopped cheera, add turmeric powder, chilly powder, mangoes and salt. Add 1/4 cup water. Allow it to boil, when ingredients are almost cooked add coconut paste, put some curry leaves and one teaspoon fresh coconut oil. yes !yummy yummy cheera curry is ready, you can eat it with rice.

Cheera Thoran

Cheera- 1 kg

turmeric powder-a pinch

grated coconut 1/4 cup

garlic - 2-3 small pieces

green chilly- 4-5

salt -for taste

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon- mustard seeds

curry leaves

2-3 red chillies

Preparation:-

As i said earlier, wash and chop the cheera (make it small pieces). In a mixer bowl put coconut, garlic and green chillies and make it a half paste(Not soft paste) Keep a pan on fire, add oil, saute mustard seeds red chillies, and leaves, turmeric powder, salt. Cover it with a lid, Don't add water, keep fire in Sim, when leaves are almost cooked, add the coconut mix to it, blend the whole with a spoon,. keep one more minute on fire, your cheera thoran is ready