Vegetable Thoran

I have adopted this recipe slightly from the one I was shown at a cookery class in Cochin, Maria's Cookery. maria's cookery cochin

Ingredients

Grated vegetables. I use 3 parts white cabbage, 1 part carrot. You can use other vegetables that lend themselves to grating. 250 gm

1 small dried red chilli, crumbled

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed and chopped

2 green chillies, split and deseeded. (optional)

1/2 cup coconut flakes. I use dry coconut.

1/4 turmeric powder (or a small piece of turmeric root, finely chopped.

curry leaves.

coconut oil

Method

Heat the oil, add the red chilli, heat for 2 minutes to release the flavour.

Add the mustard seeds, allow to 'sparkle'.

Add the cumin seeds,.

After 1 minute, add the turmeric.

After a further minute, add the vegetables and the coconut flakes, a few curry leaves and a generous pinch of salt.

Add a sprinkling of water to prevent the vegetables catching on the bottom of the pan. This is a dry curry, so be sparing with the water.

Add lid and cook over a low flame until the vegetables are ready.

Keralan Fish Curry

I have adopted this recipe slightly from the one I was shown at a cookery class in Cochin, Maria's Cookery.

Ingredients

Fish in bite size pieces. Whatever white fish is available - cod, haddock, pollock.

1 Red onion, chopped

1 cm long fresh ginger root

1/2 tsp turmeric - or a small piece of turmeric root, finely chopped

2 tsp coriander powder. Grind fresh from seeds.

1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder. Adjust this depending on how hot you want the curry.

1 chopped tomato

1 tsp lime juice

1 cup coconut milk

curry leaves

2 green chillies, split in half and deseeded (optional)

t tblsp tomato paste

salt

curry leaves

small quantity coconut oil

Method

Heat oil, add onion, fry until soft.

Add green chillies, turmeric and chilli powder. Cook for a few minutes.

Add tomato and lime juice. Stir and cook for a few minutes.

Add coconut milk and salt to taste. Bring to the boil, add fish. Lower the heat and cook for 8 minutes (or until the fish is cooked). Adjust seasoning. Garnish with curry leaves before serving.