Wild Greens of Monsoon in a Stir Fry with Fresh Spices!
I am trying to make the most of all that monsoon has to offer. Being here in my hometown I am trying to cook with all the fruits and vegetables that are in season.
In my post on Colocasia leaves, I was talking about all the greens and leafy vegetables that grow wild in monsoon. One such plant is Thagatte Soppu/greens. It’s also knows as Thajanku or Sajanku. (After trying to get the right name for Curry Fruit, I give up on my ambition of finding out English names of local vegetables/fruits. I am just going to go with the local names unless one of you can tell me what they are called in English!) Thagatte grows only in monsoon in wet areas. It’s completely wild, plants have oval round leaves which are opened out the whole day close up after sunset.
Thagatte Soppu/greens
Beautiful dark green!
Going Thagatte picking was one of our favorite things to do as kids. With rains that never stop, it was an adventure to actually venture out. I remember looking out for these in wet, slippery grass and filling our bags as much as we can with tender springs of these greens. This time I went with my daughter to pick these and sure enough she too loved it!
It’s traditionally cooked with jackfruit seeds (which are also in season) into a dry playa/stir fry, ground into a lite yogurt and coconut based gravy called Tambli or added to steamed rice cakes with spices called Pathrode.
My mom cooks them with potatoes. She used a distinct spice mixture of cumin and coriander seeds which she used only for these greens. Thagatte Soppu has a slightly bitter taste and is fibrous and quite tough (unlike most greens) even after cooked. To balance out the bitterness it’s always cooked with some jaggery for sweetness. Creamy potato pairs well with the hard chewy greens. Like most other Indian stir fries and curries this too is always served with some rice.
Being in my home town in monsoon and not cooking with these greens would have been totally unfair! So here is a simple spicy stir fry recipe with cumin and coriander seeds to bring back memories.
Thagatte is also knows as Thajanku or Sajanku
fresh cumin and coriander seeds
Thagatte with Potatoes in a Stir Fry with Fresh Spices!
make the most of all that monsoon has to offer!
[typography font="Cantarell" size="24" size_format="px" color="#b36f98"]Ingredients:[/typography]
- Thagatte greens 2-3 cups
- Potatoes cubed 1 cup
- Oil 2 tbsp
- Cumin seeds 1tbsp
- Coriander seeds 1 tbsp
- Red chili powder/cayenne 1tbsp
- Jaggery 2tbsp
- Salt 1tsp
Wash and clean the greens and remove all the stems. Dry roast cumin and coriander seeds till fragrant and crush or grind coarsely.
Heat oil in a pan and add the ground cumin, coriander and red chili powder. Fry for a minute and add the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and cook till potatoes look slightly cooked. Add the greens and the jaggery and a little bit of water. At this stage please taste to make sure the seasoning are according to your taste. You can add more jaggery or salt. Add about ¼ cup of water and let it cook in low flame. Cook till the water evaporates and potatoes are cooked. Serve hot with rice.
22 comments :
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Foraging Basics | Yummly September 24, 2011 5:39PM
[...] Wild Greens of Monsoon Stir-fry (from Love Food Eat) [...]
Reese@SeasonwithSpice August 6, 2011 5:18AM
Really lovely – both the write-up and the dish.
Nami | Just One Cookbook August 1, 2011 7:16AM
All these pictures look absolutely beauuutiful! I’ve never tried these veggies but they look delicious with fresh spices. You really take great pictures and I enjoy looking at your photos very, very much!
Jyotsna July 30, 2011 11:04AM
Love this post! Cant wait to try the Thagatte (when I find out the local name!)
Your blog is beautiful besides being interesting.
Chinmayie July 30, 2011 12:49PM
Thank you Jyotsna! Good to know that you like my blog
Thanks for stopping by!
Joyti July 28, 2011 8:39AM
How interesting – and what a nice memory to build with your little girl.
The stir-fry must have delicious, especially since it was seasoned with early Monsoon memories…
Lindsey@Lindselicious July 27, 2011 7:27AM
Oh those greens sound super interesting! Thanks for introducing us to new stuff. Love the colors in the photos too.
Rosa July 26, 2011 12:54PM
What lovely greens! That dish looks so appetizing and flavorful. I’d love to taste it.
Cheers,
Rosa
anh July 26, 2011 11:43AM
that greens look vibrantly beautiful. I wish I could taste your cooking
Miriam July 26, 2011 7:14AM
this wild green is so new to me….the dish look lovely n’ healthy….will bookmark this n’ try it soon…beautiful snaps too….:)
Padhu July 26, 2011 6:43AM
Sounds very healthy and delicious! Hearing of
Sajanku for the first time
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy July 26, 2011 3:38AM
Wow..never seen those greens but I m a die hard fan of such subzis..they are super tasty & healthy…loving all these monsoon goodies
Gorgeous pictures!
Charissa July 25, 2011 10:54PM
Looks superfood amazing. That kind of thing inspires me to high heaven!
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen July 25, 2011 6:41PM
I’m loving how you bringing local greens and berries etc on your blog. So much to learn!
Brooke July 25, 2011 6:11PM
As usual, I don’t know what half of this is, but it looks just beautiful! =)
Miriam @ Sometimes I Veg July 25, 2011 12:57PM
It’s fun that you can eat wild plants. This curry looks interesting to me. I’ll have to try it with some farmers market greens.
kankana July 25, 2011 7:59AM
Once again you introduced me a green that i didn’t eat and yet once again you made the dish looking so very appetizing! that black and white photo just stole my heart !!!
thepickyeater @ a spoonful of yumm July 25, 2011 6:41AM
ive not heard of thagatte…interesting. your dishes are healthy as ever !
Sharmilee July 25, 2011 4:53AM
Comforting, healthy n yummy curry
Sharmilee July 25, 2011 4:52AM
Comforting stir fry
Shruti July 25, 2011 4:16AM
Growing up in the western ghats, I definitely remember these wild plants. My neighbor used to make us pick these leaves for her to cook. I have never tasted it though. just reminded me of monsoon and home!
Maureen July 25, 2011 2:21AM
These greens are so foreign to me but this dish looks so good! The photo urges me to stick a fork in it.