GREEN BEANS STIR FRY/PORIYAL (using urad dal-red chilli powder)

Green Beans stir fry/poriyal (using urad dal-red chilli powder) is a easy, healthy and spicy south indian recipe, and pairs well with Rice and Roti. The green beans have many varieties and are all rich in vitamins A, C, and K. The green beans is a good source of fiber, folic acid and calcium. The green beans contains about twice the amount of iron as compared to spinach. 

 PREPARATION TIME : 10 minutes

 COOKING TIME         : 15-18 minutes

 INGREDIENTS: (serves 3 persons)

•  Green Beans                             - 200 g
•  Onion small size                       - 1
•  Grated coconut                        -  3 spoons
•  Urad dal- red chilly powder   - 3 spoons
•  Mustard seeds                         - 1/2 spoon
•  Urad dal                                    - 1 spoon
•  Curry leaves                             - 8 leaves
•  Oil                                              - 3 spoons
•  Water to cook beans              - 250 ml
•  salt

 For urad dal-red chilly powder:

•  Urad dal           - 5 spoons
•  Red chillies      - 8

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Get ready with all the ingredients. (Tip: Cut the beans as shown in the picture, for uniform cooking of beans.)

2. Boil 250 ml water in a vessel and add beans to it. Cook in low flame for 10-15 minutes (cooking time varies depending on the beans used). Strain the water and keep aside.

3. Heat a pan and dry roast the urad dal till it turns pale brown colour. Dry roast the red chillies till it puffs up slightly.

4. Cool the mixture and grind to a fine powder in the mixer. Your freshly prepared urad dal-red chilly powder is ready.

5. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and urad dal. Let them crackle.

6. Add finely chopped onions, salt and curry leaves. Saute well.

7. Add 3 spoons of freshly prepared urad dal-red chilli powder to the onions and saute well for a minute. (Tip: Store the remaining powder in a airtight container for future use, in refrigerator.)

8. Add cooked beans and stir well. check for spiciness and salt.

9. Finally add the grated coconut to the beans. 

10. Stir well and switch off the flame.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

 => The freshly prepared urad dal-red chilli powder gives nice flavour and taste to the beans poriyal. This powder can be used for kovakkai (tindora/ivy gourd) poriyal.

 => You can also add 1 spoon sambar powder along with the urad dal-red chilli powder.

 => The specified amount of spiciness is sufficient for me. If you need more or less spicy you can adjust the quantity of powder accordingly.

 => The grated coconut enhances the taste of the beans poriyal/beans stir fry. You can also skip coconut. This recipe tastes good in both way.

=> You can also add 1/4 spoon turmeric powder and a pinch of hing/asafoetida powder while sauteing onion.