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Food Guide to Cooking

This recipe for papaya stir fry thoran or omakka thoran from Kerala is the perfect match for hot, steamed rice

Made using papaya, grated coconut and other ingredients, here's a quick 15-minute dish!



Here's how you can make traditional Kerala papaya thoran or papaya stir fry in under 15 minutes!
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

An easy-to-make dish, papaya stir fry – natively known as Omakka thoran or kappalanga thoran – is a common accompaniment for steamed rice in Kerala cuisine. Often confused for cabbage thoran due to the similar resemblance, this dish is made using the goodness of raw papaya, especially since the fruit is known for its rich vitamin properties and taste.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

You will need a raw papaya...

... along with coconut, green chilli, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, garlic cloves, mustard seeds, black gram seeds and curry leaves.

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  1. 1 raw papaya (400 gms)
  2. 100 gms grated coconut
  3. 1-2 green chillies
  4. ½ tsp cumin seeds
  5. 3 garlic cloves
  6. ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  7. ½ tsp mustard seeds
  8. 1 tsp black gram (urad dal)
  9. 1 tbsp refined oil
  10. 1 sprig curry leaves
  11. Salt for taste

Method:

Step 1: Peel the raw papaya and remove the seeds by slicing it evenly. Once done, wash the papaya thoroughly.

Step 2: Shred the papaya to a coarse mix by using a food processor.

Step 3: Grind the grated coconut, green chillies, cumin, garlic cloves and turmeric powder as well.

Grind the ingredients coarsely...
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 4: In a skillet or a thick-bottomed pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds. Once it starts to splutter, add the black gram and stir till it turns lightly brown.

Time to start cooking: To a pan, heat oil and add mustard and black gram seeds. Stir till golden brown
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 5: Add the coarsely ground coconut mix and curry leaves and sauté for a minute.

Add the ground mix to the pan...
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese
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Step 6: Add the chopped papaya and mix it well. Cover the skillet or thick-bottomed pan with its lid and cook it on low flame for about three to four minutes.

Next, add the chopped papaya...

... and allow it to cook for a few minutes by closing the lid

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Step 7: Once done, open the lid and stir the mix well once again. Allow the mix to dehydrate before serving it hot as an accompaniment for steamed rice.

Once done, remove it off the flame and serve it hot with steamed rice!
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese
Sobha Varghese
A home-maker based in Mumbai, Sobha runs a popular YouTube blog called ‘Sobha's Kitchenette’ that focuses on authentic and traditional Kerala recipes.
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