Broccoli Thoran (Broccoli and coconut stir-fry)

Broccolis are one vegetable I have always had a hard time incorporating in our diets in a way that I really like. Sure, I make a broccoli sabji that I enjoy and I add broccoli to noodles and stir-frys, but I felt I hadn't still hit 'the' broccoli preparation. Something that is super fast, super easy, super healthy and super tasty - afterall broccoli is a super food, right!

Then once while I was visiting my brother we went to an Indian restaurant for lunch (thanksgiving day, everything else was closed). The buffet was quite the regular fare with the usual suspects like this paneer and that curry and so on; but right there between aalo palak and chili paneer was hidden a large bowl of shredded broccoli with some coconut pieces lurking around. The dish was named broccoli thoran. To be honest, that was my first encounter with a thoran. It being a broccoli dish I was cautious and took a small sample. My husband however loves broccoli in any form and he pretty much emptied the entire bowl! 

Both of us really loved this thoran and I decided to recreate the flavor at home. It had some chana daal which I skipped as I was out of it. In essence it is merely a stir-fry of broccoli and coconut. I purposefully kept the spices at bare minimum to let the broccoli be the star of the dish. I usually serve this as a mild soothing side dish to some spicy curry. 

I am sending this to Preeti's Green Gourmet event celebrating the healthy green foods.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
3C chopped broccoli florets
2Tbsp frozen grated coconut (or fresh!)
1Tbsp vegetable oil
1/4tsp mustard seeds
3 small green Thai chilis (more or less based on your heat tolerance)
1/2inch piece of ginger (chopped into smaller pieces)
salt & black pepper

Recipe:
** Since this was my first time cooking thoran can't really say that this is an authentic recipe; I just tried to replicate the original taste from restaurant minus chana daal ofcourse.
  1. Steam the broccoli florets for 5minutes (depending on the size of the florets) until they are tender.
  2. Remove from steamer and let cool for 5-10mins. Then chop/shred the florets very finely into many small pieces.
  3. Heat oil in a wide stir-fry pan. When hot, temper with mustard seeds.
  4. Add green chilis and ginger and sauté for a couple of minutes.
  5. Add shredded broccoli and stir fry for a couple of minutes on high heat.
  6. Add coconut, salt & pepper and stir-fry for few more minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and adjust the seasonings. Serve with roti and any spicy curries.

Comments

Suji said…
We love thoran with broccoli..yummy yumm

Love
Kairali sisters
PranisKitchen said…
we can try thoran with any veggies. broccoli thoran sometimes i do the same..taste good best part is it's very healthy
really nice thoran..nice pic too
Sonia said…
PJ, even I haven't tried any thoran yet, but wud love to. This is very neat and simple recipe of broccoli. I always wonder how can I use in my diet at most. Unfortunately, I'm dumb when it comes to broccoli recipes. :(
Your thoran looks quite scrumptious! :)
We also started making broccoli thoran recently and we love it... yours looks really good and beautiful pic too
very healthy n delicious dish...gonna try it soon.
Pari Vasisht said…
Hi. The thoran looks so beautiful, I normally make it with french beans or cabbage and can have eat bowls of it for it's mere simplicity and lightness.I do squeeze some lime into it for that gentle tang.
Kanchan said…
Quite interesting way of using Brocolli, quite healthy and will go great as smaller side dish with some spicy gravy.
Sushma Mallya said…
Using broccoli this way sounds good, so healthy and very quick to make as well
Padhu Sankar said…
I love this and prepare it in the same way but I do not shred broccoli but cut it into small florets.Nice and simple recipe
I love beans and carrot thoran but never made with broccoli. looks so green. perfect with dal rice. thanks for sharing this.
Priya Suresh said…
Wat a fantastic way to sneak out broccolis..beautiful thoran PJ..
I think i have been saved by this recipe..my husband like urs loves it in any form and i detest it. Not even in soups and stir fries can i have it...i already know il like this because anything with coconut usually pleases me..im sooo gonna try it out
SathyaSridhar said…
Dear,,nice broccoli poriyal dear me too like this poriyal very much than kootu...taste very good n fresh..
Nupur said…
This looks so fresh and wonderful! My go-to recipe with broccoli is broccoli-cheese soup.
TREAT AND TRICK said…
Love your preparation, simple with minimal ingredients but great taste, would try this sometime......
Preeti Kashyap said…
I make broccoli and cabbage thoran. This looks yummy and simple. Thanks for sending this to GG-1.
Kalyn Denny said…
Never heard of this combination, but it sounds interesting.
tasteofbeirut said…
Never had thoran but it is lovely and I am intrigued!
Panchpakwan said…
New to me..sounds delicious and healthy.
Panchpakwan said…
New to me..sounds delicious and healthy.
Hamaree Rasoi said…
I make beans and carrot thoran but this is new to me and very interesting also. Looks beautiful

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Deepti said…
Quick n easy recipe with healthy ingredients.
Cool Lassi(e) said…
Splendid Thoran. I love the color contrast of broccoli and grated coconut!
Rachana said…
I have to try this broccoli stir fry now... it looks so good :-)
Usha said…
Loved the broccoli thoran, looks delicious ! Great pictures...
indosungod said…
This does look good. With coconut what will not? Broccoli is not one of my favorites I can tolerate it steamed and that is pretty much it.
arthi said…
love broccoli..nice pictures!!

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Joanne said…
Hmmm broccoli with coconut...that is one way I've never thought to prepare it! I need to give it a whirl.

You should try just roasting the broccoli at 400 for 10 minutes and sprinkling with salt. It's so delicious!
Anonymous said…
its th best I can say..with broccoli being very high in iron..thoran makes it all the more better
Parita said…
I have made broccoli pulao but i love my broccoli stir fried, thoran sounds delicious too!
Ushnish Ghosh said…
Dear PJ
This broccoli combo is very new for me. I like it.
Have a nice week ahead
Jayasri said…
I love Broccoli in any way!!, looks so delicious....
Amruta said…
Hi PJ,
Stumbled upon your blog very recently. You have such diverse recipes...will go through them as I get time.

I too don't like broccoli a lot, but this thoran looks beautiful. Will surely give it a try.
Sook said…
So healthy and delicious, I bet! I love broccoli. This looks perfect!
Sindhura said…
lovely click...very healthy n tasty preparation
Inviting you personally to bread mania event
http://www.athidhyam.com/2010/05/event-bread-mania.html
San said…
Healthy stir fry PJ ,iam a fan of broccoli .Like to include it in many forms such as soup,salads,stir fry ...