Pacha Cheera Thoran or Green Amaranth Thoran

Paccha Cheera or Green Amaranth is a leafy vegetable that finds its way into the daily diet of Indians. Green Amaranth is an extremely healthy source of protiens and vitamins, people prefer to have it atleast once in a week. Cheera thoran or Green Amarath with coconut gratings, is  a good option with rice when you are racking your brains for any dinner ideas.

Green Amaranth is extremely healthy and I bet you would definitely love its taste too. But if you want tasty side dishes out of Green Amaranth, make sure you pick tender ones. Tender Amaranth gives you the best taste that will tempt to prepare it more often.

Green and Red Amaranth are often grown in most of the vegetable gardens in Kerala. If you are a great fan of Red Amaranth, you will probably avoid green ones. But it is said that Green Amaranth is much more filled with nutrients than Red one. It is good for making your body immune to diseases and will help to slow down the graying of your hair.

I hated Amaranth- both red and green ones when I was a child. But I think now I am a great fan of this leafy vegetable when I got to know of the loads of benefits they provide us. If kids do not prefer to eat them, you may cut them finely and add them to other curries they love to have.

Check the recipe for Green Amaranth Thoran or Pacha Cheera Thoran and make your rice taste good with this side dish.

Ingredients

·        Green Amaranth – A Bunch

·        Coconut gratings – ¼ cup

·        Green chilly – 2 nos

·        Shallots – 3 nos

·        Onion – 1 large

·        Garlic  - 2 pods

·        Turmeric Powder – a pinch

·        Cumin seeds powder (jeerakam)- a pinch

·        Curry leaves- a few

·        Salt

·        Coconut/Vegetable oil

Method

·        In a mixer jar, add grated coconut, shallots, garlic, turmeric powder, cumin seeds powder, garlic and green chilies

·        Grind them for a second or two

·        Keep it aside

·        Take a pan, place it on the stove and heat it

·        Add oil and let it heat

·        Now add mustard seeds. Allow it to crack

·        Add curry leaves

·        Add Finely chopped onion into the oil and sauté for a minute or two

·        Add the coconut mixture to it and sauté for two to three minutes till you get the pleasant roasted smell of the coconut.

·        Now add the finely chopped green amaranth into the  pan

·        Add a bit of salt. Too much salt will spoil the dish

·        You need to mix the amaranth with the coconut mixture well

·        “DO NOT ADD WATER”

·        You may cook it with the lid closed for a 5- 10 min

·        Tip: If you cook it with the lid open, you will find the taste of this thoran better than the closed version

·        After 10 min, open the lid

·        Serve hot with rice and curries

·        Enjoy!!