Cluster Beans with Potato Stir Fry

Cluster beans, a green vegetable is rich in fiber. India is the largest producer of cluster beans. Though it is slightly bitter in taste, tender cluster beans can be prepared as stir fry/curry by mixing with other vegetables. Here is Cluster Beans with Potato Stir Fry.

Cluster beans is known as Kothavarangai/ Kothavarakkai (கொத்தவரங்காய்/ கொத்தவரக்காய்) in Tamil and is known as gawaar in Hindi.

Ingredients

• Cluster beans chopped – 3 cups approximately
• Potato – 2 no
• Onion medium – 2 no
• Tomato – 1 no
• Green chilli – 2 no
• Turmeric powder – quarter teaspoon
• Red chilli powder – half teaspoon
• Coriander powder – 1 tablespoon
• Salt – as per taste
• Ginger garlic paste – 1 teaspoon
• For seasoning
  • Mustard – half teaspoon
  • Carom seeds – quarter teaspoon
  • Cumin seeds – half teaspoon
  • Asafetida – generous pinch
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Oil – 1 tablespoon

Method

• Boil cluster beans till soft (I did it in microwave oven).

• Peel and chop potato, onion; chop green chilli and tomato.

• Heat a pan with oil and do the seasoning; add chopped green chilli, curry leaves and fry for few seconds.

• Add chopped onion and stir fry till onion is pink.

• Add chopped potatoes and stir fry for few minutes.

• Add ginger garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and fry for few seconds; add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt.

• Mix well and add handful of water; cover and cook till potato is soft.

• Add boiled cluster beans and mix well; adjust consistency as per your need by sprinkling water; cook for 3 to 4 minutes till all spices blend together.

• Now Cluster Beans with Potato Stir Fry is ready. Serve hot with rice or chapatti.

Tips

• Before using cluster beans for cooking, it is better to cut both ends slightly and then chop.
• Seasoning with carom seeds (ajwain, omam – ஓமம்) helps to improve digestion and taste of the dish.