Asparagus Thoran / Asparagus Stir Fry with coconut

During my initial days in US, I used to wonder what to cook other than the usual carrot, cabbage, beans etc. I used to wonder what could I make with Asparagus. They used to look like bamboo shoots and I used to think they might be so difficult to cut through. Then my co-sis-in-law once told that they make stir fry's out of it and its super addictive. That's how I gave it a try. And yes it indeed is addictive.

Later, we kept trying other veggies that we used to find in the usual stores other than making curry using just Indian veggies. Stir fry's using broccoli, mustard greens, collard greens etc. taste great. Infact, one such trials led to the invention of Kale kootu, which we absolutely love having till date.

If you haven't tried asparagus ever, then it is just the right dish to give a try and experience it. I bet you would definitely fall in love with it.

Ingredients

1. A bunch of Asparagus / 1 lb of Asparagus
2. 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
3. A cup of shredded coconut
4. 1 cup of sliced onion, preferably red onion
5. 2 Green chillies, slit length wise 
6. Salt to taste
7. 1 strand of Curry leaves
8. 3-4 tbsp of cooking oil

Method

• Wash and clean the Asparagus and slice them into thin disc shaped pieces.
• In a skillet, heat up the oil. Drop in the onion, curry leaves and green chilly to it. Add salt to it and saute it till the onion turns tender.
• Now add the sliced asparagus and give it a stir. Cover the pan and let it cook while you stir it occasionally.
• In a bowl, take the coconut and turmeric powder and mix it with your hands well. Add it to the asparagus once half cooked. Cover and cook till the asparagus gets cooked and all the ingredients combine well. 
• If you happen to see that there is too much water in it, open and cook it till the additional water evaporates. 
• Remove it from the stove and serve it with rice and Moru Kachiyathu.

Tips

1. You could choose to add cumin seeds to it while you saute the onion. It would enhance its taste.
2. Do not over cook the asparagus else they turn mushy. They taste good when they have a slight crunch to it.