Mallung or mallum, is a Sri Lankan dish that comes with shredded Greens that comprises lightly cooked/sautéed with fresh coconut and any number of spices and chili this is a common condiment and is eaten at almost every meal.
Most of us as Sri Lankans eat greens as a “Mallum”. For every meal we have, we always look for a Mallum or a Sambal made with greens because that’s what makes it a great meal that is full of nutrients and flavor.
Difference between “Mallum” and “Sambol”
When we make Mallum we can make it without any oil. For that, we can use the water from the greens because the greens are full of water. If you really want to add oil, you can add 1 tbsp of oil to the Mallum when making it. But if you are using it, I highly recommend using Olive Oil. The main reason for that is the nutritional value of Olives.
Furthermore, I should note that, if you are making a Sambal you won’t be needing any oil because it needs to be fresh. So when you are making Mallum we have to make it in low heat because we have to preserve all the nutrients in those greens. Furthermore, we have to wash these greens really well because you will find small insects and microorganisms in these greens. So most of the time, what I do is, wash these greens in salt water before cooking them. After I wash these greens I always try to finely chop them before cooking, or if I have a food processor, I always use that. I would say the most used equipment in my kitchen is the food processor. OMG, the food processor is such a time saver.
Grated Coconut
The next important this is the grated coconut. When you are making Mallum you have to use some grated coconut. It not only adds flavor but that texture too. You can add the coconut to the Mallum when it’s cooking on the stovetop. Remember, it should always be low heat. Another way to add coconut is, you can pound the coconut in the mortar and pestle with some Garlic Cloves, Green Chilies, Curry Leaves, Salt, Tumeric Powder, and Lime, and then add that to the Mallum. This will give that beautiful extra flavor and it will make your tastebuds go crazy. Whatever method you use, Mallum is something that I make at least 4-6 times per week.
After I migrated to Canada, I couldn’t find all the greens that I used to eat while I was in Sri Lanka. This impacted me a lot because I always loved having my greens in my meals. So what I did was, I kind of became innovative and tried making Mallum from every type of green that I find in Canada. Trust me, to my surprise, it turned out really well. I will share all the recipes of those Mallum I make so that you can enjoy them as well.
But Brocolli Mallum is something that I had even when I was in Sri Lanka. You could say that it is my second favorite Mallum After Gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) Mallum. Brocolli is full of nutrients and has a lot of health benefits. This is really good for you if you are concerned about your diet and trying to lose weight because 90% of broccoli is water. Some benefits of Brocolli are it supports our immune system, improves our eyesight, balances our hormones, is good for your heart health, and reduces the risk of cancer. So Broccoli is a very nutritious green. No matter how you make this, the taste will never disappoint your taste buds.
Broccoli Mallum
Description
Broccoli Mallum is simple, Vegan, yet delicious and this is one of our favorite Green that is a perfect side dish that we can use for almost any Sri Lankan meal.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Broccoli Mallum
Instructions
Preparation of Brocolli Mallum
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First, add oil to the pan and add Curry Leaves.
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Then add Onions and fry for a bit.
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After that add Green Chilies and the Ghost Pepper and mix well.
Only add the Ghost Pepper if you are a spice lover. It is optional. -
After cooking it for like 2 minutes in low heat, add the Turmeric Powder and Salt.
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Mix well all the ingredients.
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Add chopped Broccoli after like 1 minute
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And cook in low heat for another 2 minutes.
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Finally, add the Shredded Coconut.
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Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
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Make sure to remove it from the heat after 2 minutes to preserve its nutritional value. - ENJOY!!!
Note
SRI LANKAN MEALS WITH BROCCOLI MALLUM
