Beans Usili
recipe Image
 
This side dish is a great part of a meal especially if you're going vegetarian. I personally make it to go with rice and sambar.
Preparation Time : 5 mins

Cooking Time : 15-20 mins

Serves : Family of four
Ingredients:
  • Green Beans - 250g
  • Channa dal - 125g
  • Dry red chillies - 2 big or 3 medium size
  • Asafoetida powder - 2 pinch
  • Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Oil - 7-8 tblsp
  • Black mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - 1 Sprig
  • Water - as required
  • Salt - to taste
Method:
  1. Soak the channa dal for about 1 hour.
  2. Grind the soaked channa dal with red chillies, asafoetida and a little water into a fine paste.
  3. Chop the beans and boil them in a pan of water with salt for a few minutes.
  4. Heat a frying pan on the stove and add oil.
  5. Season with mustard and curry leaves
  6. Add the ground mixture to the pan and fry it until it is cooked well.
  7. Add the cooked beans and salt and fry for another 5 minutes.
  8. Turn the heat off.
  9. The Beans usili is ready to be eaten.
A healthier way of eating this dish:

  1. Change the quantity of Oil from 7-8 tblsp to 1 tblsp .
  2. Do all the above steps 1-3 and then do the following steps.
  3. Steam the ground channa dal mix for about 5 minutes or until it is cooked.
  4. Heat a frying pan on the stove and add 1 tablespoon oil.
  5. Season with mustard and curry leaves
  6. Add the cooked channa dal mix, cooked beans and salt to the pan and fry for about 5 minutes.​
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Notes:
Suitable for rice and <a href="/recipes/sambar">Sambar</a>. Green beans can be replaced by runner beans, cabbage, carrot, pumpkin or any other bean like vegetable.