Go Back
–+ servings
A Taste of South India: The Easiest Carrot Stir-Fry! – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

A Taste of South India: The Easiest Carrot Stir-Fry!

This Carrot Poriyal is a quick South Indian stir-fry bursting with flavor—sweet carrots, nutty lentils, popping mustard seeds, and a generous finish of fresh coconut and cilantro. A simple, vegan, and gluten-free side dish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 3 serving
Calories: 115

Ingredients
  

  • 5 medium carrots, about 12 oz or 340g
  • 1 tablespoon olive or peanut oil, 15ml (0.5 fl oz)
  • ½ teaspoon urad dal
  • ½ teaspoon whole brown mustard seeds
  • 2 dried hot red chilies, broken in half
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml / 0.2 fl oz) finely grated fresh ginger, from a ½-inch or 1.5cm piece
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) finely grated fresh or defrosted frozen coconut, 25g (0.88 oz)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) roughly chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 tablespoons water, 60ml (2 fl oz)
  • For a crunchier poriyal, skip adding the water and simply stir-fry the carrots for 5-6 minutes until cooked to your liking.
  • No urad dal? You can substitute with chana dal for a similar nutty crunch. Just be sure to add it with the oil as it takes a moment longer to brown.
  • For a touch of tang, squeeze a small wedge of lime or a teaspoon of lemon juice over the finished dish just before serving.
  • Leftovers are fantastic! Toss them into a green salad, mix with quinoa, or roll them into a wrap for a delicious and easy lunch.

Method
 

  1. Prep the Carrots: Peel the carrots and slice them into ⅓-inch (about 1cm) rounds. If the top parts of the carrots are very thick, cut those rounds in half.
  2. Temper the Spices: Heat the oil in a frying pan, wok, or karhai over medium heat.
  3. Once shimmering, add the urad dal and fry until it just begins to turn a light golden color.
  4. Sizzle and Pop: Immediately add the mustard seeds and broken red chilies. As soon as the mustard seeds begin to pop and the chilies darken (this will happen in seconds!) , add the prepared carrots, grated ginger, and salt.
  5. Stir everything together to coat the carrots.
  6. Steam and Soften: Pour in the 4 tablespoons (60 ml / 2 fl oz) of water, give it a final stir, then cover the pan.
  7. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the carrots are tender-crisp.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Turn off the heat.
  9. Stir in the grated coconut and chopped cilantro.
  10. Mix well and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 2gFat: 7g

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!