CABBAGE THOREN

My husband's favorite. His combination is rice, sambar, cabbage thoren, pappadam, and lime pickle. That's what was served at his school canteen, and he instantly liked it. My mother-in-law makes the best cabbage thoren. Cutlet and cabbage Thoren are her two most famous dishes. A comment that the cabbage t's thoren's taste that I made is close to my mother-in-law's is the best compliment I can get, and I have got that only once.
RECIPE

1. 8 cups sliced cabbage(600 gms.)
2. 3 green chilies
3. 1/4 tsp turmeric
4. 1 cup grated coconut
5. 1/2 jeera powder(optional)
6. 7 to 8 curry leaves
7. 2 Tbsp of oil of any kind
8. 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
9. 1/4 cup chopped onions(30 g)
10. 4 cloves of garlic chopped.
11. salt to taste(1-1/2 tsp)

METHOD

• Chop the cabbage. Hand chopping is the best, but I rely on my excellent processor to save time.
  

• Heat a heavy bottom pan (I have used a cheena chatti) on medium-high heat; when warm, add oil; when the oil is hot,  add mustard seeds, splutter, chopped onions, garlic, green chilies, and sauté.
  

         

          

• When sautéed well (don't allow the garlic to burn), add turmeric and jeera powder(optional). Saute, add cabbage and grated coconut(I have used frozen coconut without thawing).
  

• Let the cabbage heat up on medium-high heat. Then pour 2 Tbsp. Water. Mix the cabbage well. Stir the frozen coconut chunks into the bottom of the pan. Add salt, and stir well. Dab the cabbage and coconut mixture well so that the cabbage cooks in the steam. Cook on high heat, covered for a minute.
  

                                           

• Open and stir; if the cabbage sticks to the bottom, reduce the temperature slightly and cook for another minute, dabbed tightly, and covered. The cabbage must be half-cooked now. Now lower the temperature to medium and saute the cabbage until cooked well and the water is evaporated.
  
  
  
  NOTES

• You want the cabbage nice and firm and not soggy. The trick is to let the steam pan cook the cabbage, increase the heat, add salt, and cook for 1 minute.
• If the cabbage tends to wilt after dabbing and keeping for the first 2 minutes, don't dab it for the rest of the cooking time. 
• 1/2 tsp pepper powder or crushed black pepper powder can be used to increase the heat.
• The cabbage can be hand chopped or pulsed in the food processor. Put small quantities in the food processor, or the cabbage will wilt even before cooking.
  
  
  
  
  
  

NOTES

• Only 2 tbsp of water is required, not more than that.