Turnips stir-fried with coconut…
Turnips are root vegetables that belong to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and radishes. These vegetables are known for their white or purple taproots and their crisp, white flesh. Pickled turnips are popular in Middle Eastern cuisine.
This is one of the vegetables I ignored at the grocery store all these years. The other day I ordered groceries online, and instead of beetroot, I got turnips. I looked at the turnips & had no clue what to make with it. Then I felt making Kerala-style thoran or stir fry with turnips wouldn’t be a flop.
One of the vegetarian side dishes in Kerala cuisine is thoran or stir fry with coconut, literally, any kind of veggies can be added for making thoran or even mixed veggies.
When I tasted the turnips thoran, I felt guilty that I ignored this vegetable all these years. Tasted delicious, turnip has a slightly sweet taste, along with the stir-fried coconut, tasted amazing.
Hereafter, I’ll be buying turnips quite often & will be trying different dishes with them.
- Coconut oil- 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
- Dried red chilies, halved- 2
- Curry leaves- 8 leaves
- Shallots, chopped- 2 large shallots or 5 small onions
- Turnips, diced- 1
- Water- ½ cup
- Chili powder- ½ tsp
- Turmeric powder- ⅛ tsp
- Salt- 1½ tsp
- Grated coconut- ½ cup
- I've taken 1 turnip, diced it into medium-sized chunks.
- Place a saucepan over medium heat, add oil & let turn hot.
- Add mustard seeds, let splutter.
- Add dried red chilies & curry leaves, saute for a few seconds.
- Add shallots or small-pearl onions, season with ½ tsp salt, saute till shallots turn light golden in color.
- Add diced turnip, combine well.
- Add 1 tsp salt & water, cook covered till turnips turn soft.
- Don't overcook the turnips.
- Open the lid, stir fry & let all the liquid dry off.
- Add chili powder & turmeric powder, stir fry for a minute.
- Add grated coconut & stir fry over high heat for 3 minutes, let coconut turn golden brown in color.
- Take the pan off the heat.
- Serve this as a side dish along with rice.
- Turnips along with coconut taste delicious.
