Beans Poriyal
This is a simple and delightful South Indian shallow-fried vegetable dish generally served as a side in everyday meal with sambar and rice. Green french beans, moong dal, grated coconut and minimal amount of oil makes this south Indian Tamil style beans poriyal not only yummy and tempting but healthy as well. It is generally liked and appreciated by children and can be prepared in jiffy and that makes it an ideal to be packed in their lunch boxes. In Karnataka, it is known as beans palya too!
| Ingredients: |
| 1 cup finely chopped French Beans |
| 2 tablespoons Moong Dal, soaked in water for 15 minutes |
| 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder |
| 1/4 teaspoon Mustard Seeds |
| 3-4 Curry Leaves |
| 1/2 teaspoon Urad Dal |
| 1 Green Chilli, slit vertically and halved |
| 1 small Onion, finely chopped |
| 1/4 cup grated Fresh Coconut |
| 1/2 tablespoon Oil |
| 1 cup Water |
| Salt to taste |
Directions:
- Heat oil in a pan or kadai over medium flame. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add curry leaves and urad dal and stir-fry for 30-40 seconds or until dal turns slightly light brown.
- Add slit green chilli and chopped onion. Sauté until onion turns light pink.
- Add beans and moong dal (soaked and drained) and salt.
- Mix well and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 1/3 cup water.
- Cover with a lid and cook over low flame until beans and dal turn soft, approx. 7-8 minutes. Stir in between occasionally to prevent sticking and make sure that dal does not turn mushy. Add couple of tablespoons more water if required.
- Add and mix turmeric powder.
- Add grated coconut.
- Mix well and cook for a minute.
- Turn off flame and transfer it to a serving bowl. Tempting green beans poriyal is ready; serve it with hot chapati for nutritious meal.
Tips and Variations:
- You can also pre-cook moong dal and beans in 1/2 cup salted water in 3-liter capacity steel or aluminum pressure cooker for 2-whistles. If you are following this approach then skip step-5 mentioned above and reduce cooking time to 2 minutes in step-6
- Use 3-4 dry red chillies instead of green chillies.
- Add 2 tablespoons frozen green peas or chana dal to make it even more healthier.
Taste: Spicy with soft yet crunchy texture.
Serving Ideas: Serve it with chapati, sambar rice or as a part of meal.