Tamil Nadu Recipes

Avarai Kootu (Field Bean Side-Dish)

Posted on 20. Jan, 2009 by Uma in Side Dishes

Avarakkai (Tamil, Kannada) or Avarai is a vegetable eaten in South India. It comes from a vine with the botanical name of Dolichos lablab and it is grown as a food crop through Asia and parts of Africa. It is also known as field bean or lablab bean in the U.S. , where it is usually grown as an ornamental. The Chinese are known to have cultivated the plant for its beautiful flowers and beans, for centuries. In South India it is traditionally cooked as a side dish for rice during Pongal.  The commonly found variety around the world is the  bright violet phenotype, but the green variety found in India known as Pachchai Avarai in Tamil, is a better food crop.

Pachchai Avarai Kootu: Cooking Time: 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

Shelled beans    – 200grams

Oil:                    –   1 table spoon

Mustard seed     -1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric powder -1/2 teaspoon

Salt                     -1/2 teaspoon

Cumin (jeera)      – ½ teaspoon

Red chili              – 3no

Small onion (shallots) – 5no

Cloves garlic                 – 2no

Coconut grating         – 2 tablespoon

Method:

Boil the shelled beans along with turmeric powder and salt with enough water till the beans are soft and tender.

Grind all the other items coarsely and put aside.

In a pan pour oil and add mustard seeds. When the mustard seed start to splutter, add the ground masala (spice mixture) and fry. Then add the boiled beans and stir for a few minutes till you get the right consistency.

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Tags: Avarakkai, featured, lablab beans, recipe