CLUSTER BEANS THORAN

 KOTTAVARRAKAI/CLUSTER BEANS THORAN

Ingredients:

1/4 kg kottavarrakai
1 cup tuvar dal
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp asafetida powder
2 red chilies or according to taste
1 sprig curry leaves
salt to taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
1- 2 tsps. urad dal
2 -3 tbsps. oil

Method of Preparation

Soak the tuvar dal for about an hour and drain well. Grind the dal, turmeric and asafetida powders, red chilies, curry leaves and salt into a pate without adding water. Make small patties and steam cook (in an idly stand) for about 10 minutes. Or pat the paste flat onto a plate and steam cook. Cool slightly and crumble by hand. If the steam cooked batter is too hard to crumble easily (this happens sometimes if it cools down), use a grater.
String, chop the kottavarrakai into small pieces and cook with a little salt till well done but firm.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the urad dal. When this browns, add the cooked beans. Stir a couple of times and add the crumbled dal. Mix and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, till the dal starts becoming crisp. The Usili is ready to serve.

Tips: Select soft kottavarrakai and use this vegetable more often in your diet.