Marthangali / manathakkali thoran

Marthankali flowers

Marthankali berries

 Marthankali ripe berries and flowers

Marthankali thoran

Marthangali is a herb with great medicinal properties. The scientific name is Solanum americanum.

My maternal grandmother used to treat mouth ulcers with this plant. Just chew the leaf and berries. Almost like magic, the ulcer disappears. It has a high content of Vitamin B.

It belongs to the 'nightshade' family and is thus related to tomatoes and brinjal.

Read more about this family here.

All the fruits of this family sport the same adorable little green elfish hat.

We usually dry the berries and use it in vathakozhambu.

This thoran is a great way to consume the leaves of the plant.

Note: This thoran has a tart taste and may not be relished by children.

Ingredients:
Marthangali - 1 bunch
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal / uzhundu parippu - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly - 1, broken
Salt
Turmeric powder / manjal podi - 1/4 tsp
Coconut - 2 tbsp
Green chilly - 1

Method:
Remove the leaf and berries from the stalk.
Wash the leaf and berries well as the plant is a herb and is quite short, so mud / sand / dirt will be there.
Cut the leaves and keep aside.

Grind the coconut with the green chilly without adding any water. Keep aside.

Heat the oil in a kadai, splutter the mustard seeds. Then add the urad dal and broken red chilly.

Add the chopped leaves and berry.
Stir continuously and when it wilts, it shrinks considerable.

Now add the ground coconut, salt and turmeric powder.
Mix well and cook for 1 more minute or until all the water evaporates.