Kerala Style Spinach Stir Fry / Cheera Thoran…..

Ingredients:
Pacha Cheera (Spinach): 1 large bunch.
Shallots (cheriya ulli): 3 or 4.
Green Chilly: 1 large or 2 medium.
Garlic: 2 cloves.
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp.
Freshly scraped coconut: 1/2 to 3/4 cup.
Mustard seeds: 1/4 tsp.
Matta rice: 1/2 tsp.
Shallots (cheriya ulli): 2 or 3, sliced.
Coconut oil: 1 tbsp.
Salt to taste

Method:

Wash the spinach thoroughly, and keep it in a colander for a few minutes. Chop them up finely. Keep them aside.

Add the scraped coconut in the dry grinder/chutney grinder along with the shallots, turmeric, green chilly, and garlic cloves. Grind them coarsely without adding any water….just pulse them twice. Keep them aside.

Heat a kadai or pan or “cheena chatti”. Add in coconut oil, add in the mustard seeds, once it starts to crack add in the matta rice…simmer the fire and then add in the chopped shallots

Once the shallots (cheriya ulli) has lightly browned, add in the chopped spinach. On high flame cook for 1 min. Spinach will start to release water and wilt quickly if it is fresh, and once the water is evaporated. Add in salt and stir well.

Now simmer the fire and add in the coconut mix, cover with a lid for a minute. Open lid and stir everything together…..stir for another min or two. Serve hot.