Matha Ila Thoran

pumpkin leaves recipe

Matha Ila Thoran (മത്ത ഇല തോരൻ-Pumpkin leaf stir fry) is traditional vegetable side dish from Malayalee’s Kitchen. I used to have this in my child hood days when Mom put this together as a quick side dish from our own vegetable garden. These leaves are a good source of different types of vitamins, minerals and rich in anti-oxidants, such as alpha-carotene and Beta–carotene which helps to slow down ageing process. Here I am preparing it from leaves collected from my own home garden, and hence is in full confidence on its organic benefits.

Ingredients

  1. Pumpkin leaves/flowers :~ 30 leaves (+ I had couple of flowers too)
  2. Onion chopped  : 1 (small)
  3. Green chilly (chopped) :  3
  4. Garlic chopped : 3 Cloves
  5. Grated Coconut  :1 cup
  6. Jeera  : A Pinch
  7. Turmeric powder : ¼ T-sp
  8. Salt for taste

For tempering:

  1. Oil  : 1 ½ T-sp
  2. Mustard seeds  : ¼ T-sp
  3. Dried red chilli : 2
  4. Curry leaves : 1 sprig

Method

  • Wash and clean the dark green pumpkin leaves in water and drain the water well.
  • Pumpkin leaves have a very small hair-thorn which need to be removed. Take each leaves and roll it with two hands until you feel no thorns on it.
  • Then finely chop the leaves and flowers.

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  • In a mixer add the coconut along with jeera and turmeric powder; pulse it into a coarse mixture ( don’t add any water).
  • In a kadai/pan add the oil and splutter  the mustard seeds and then add dried chilly along with curry leaves and fry it.
  • Add the chopped onion along with garlic and green chilli; fry it until translucent.
  • Then add the leaves and sauté it for about 2 minutes and close it and cook it for about 3 minutes ( check out in-between to avoid sticking in the pan, if the leaves are dry sprinkle some water or oil)
  • Now add the coconut mixture into the center of the leaves and close it and cook it for another 1 minute.
  • Mix the coconut mixture and cook it for about 1 minute. If there is any water content dry it.

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Tips:-

  • Cooking time may vary each leaves. Mine it took about 7 minute.

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