Thotakura Fry:

Andhra's favorite green is Thotakura.some one calls as koi-thotakura.after of course Gongura . Every morning in the streets of our Village you will hear vegetable vendor shouting and selling these farm cut fresh greens. Koi thotakura is the one with red stems and locally grown in Andhra.

My first dish in chennai is this one only.
 madhu likes it very much.......................................
so it takes place in my weekly menu....

Thotakura can be stir fried , cooked with dals/lentils,
 To day I post this  recipe...it is  very tasty and can be a side dish with plain rice, and roti.

Ingredients:


 2 (kattalu) Koi Thotakura, washed, dried and coarsely chopped along with the stems
Salt diluted in 2T of water

 1 t mustard seeds

 1 t cumin/jeera
 1 t urad dal/black gram
 2 t chana dal/bengal gram
 4-5 curry leaves (optional)
 2 T cooking oil
 8-10 garlic pods.
8-10 green -chilies.
Method:

1. Wash and dry the leaves on a kitchen towel, make sure its dried thoroughly. Then coarsely chop the leaves along with the stems discarding any tough ones.

2. Heat oil in a large pan, add mustard seeds and let it splutter for a minute, then add the rest of the seasoning ingredients and let it fry for a minute.

3.Add cutted green-chilies. fry it well.

4.Add the chopped onions.mix it well live it for 2-4 mins .add curry leaves.

5. Add the chopped leaves and stir occasionally for even cooking, sprinkle the salt or salty water over the leaves, saute and cover with a lid for 4-5 mins.

6.cut and crush the garlic pods .add this  crushed garlic to cooked leaves.mix it well.

 .

serve with rice and roti .

its really tasty and healthy item.