Kothavarangai Paruppu Usili

Mil bought Kothavarangai (Cluster beans), immly everyone voted for paruppu usili. This is perfectly my MIL’s recipe. Each one have their own way of making usili. This is tasty and easy method which I have seen. There is one more fav cluster beans recipe of mine.. will release some other time. 

Ingredients:

·         Cluster beans / Kothavarainga – 250 gms

·         Red chili – 1

·         Curry leaves – few

·         Grated coconut – 2 tbsp (Optional)

·         Mustard seeds

·         Coconut oil – 1 tsp

·         Turmeric powder

·         Salt to taste

Ingredients for Usili:

·         Chenna dal – 2 tbsp

·         Toor Dal – 2 tbsp

·         Urad Dal – 1 tbsp

·         Red chilies – 2

·         Ginger – 1 inch piece

·         Hing / Asofitida -1/4 tsp

·         Curry leaves – a strand

·         Salt to taste

Preparation :

Soak the dals mentioned in usili for half an hour with enough water.

Discard the ends in the beans, and rinse in well. Cut it into ½ inch pieces.

Method:

Drain the water from the dal and grind it with chilies, hing, curry leaves and salt to a coarse paste, without adding any water.

Transfer the content from the mixer to a wide bowl and cook it for 2 whistles in pressure cooker.

Meanwhile, take a thick bottom kadai. Heat it. Once hot, add coconut oil, once heated add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Then add red chili and fry it brown and add curry leaves.

Add the beans, turmeric powder and 1/2 cup of water and cook it with a lid. Once cooked, add little salt. We already have added salt in usili so add carefully.

By this time, the dal will be cooked and cooled. Crumble the cooked dal with the help of mixer and add it to the beans.

Add grated coconut, mix them well. Cook the mixture for about 5 mins in medium heat.

Rasam sadham + Paruppu usili is the world winning combo according to me.

Note: Apart from cluster beans, we can make usili with Normal beans, flat beans, cabbage.