Green Beans Mezhukkupuratti /Kerala Beans Stir-fry

Green Beans also known as French Beans, String Beans,Snap Beans and Squeaky Beans. French beans are sweet, tender and wonderfully crispy. We have lots of recipes using French beans. Beans Mezhukku puratti is really quick and easy recipe. It is one of the common side dish with rice in Kerala. Mezhukku puratti in Malayalam simply means Smeared in oil. Mezhukkupuratti can be made with most of the vegetables like Snake ground, Asparagus, Long Beans, Beetroot, Carrot, Raw plantains, Yam, Potatoes,Egg plant etc with slight variations depending on the vegetables. It has many health benefits. French beans/Green Beans contain vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K,protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, manganese, magnesium, potassium, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, copper, protein, omega 3 fatty acids, niacin, starch and plenty of iron. It is low in calories and contains water and fat soluble anti-oxidant.

INGREDIENTS:

French beans/Green beans washed and cut into 1” pieces –  2 ½  cups,/300g

Onion, thinly sliced – 1, small

Green Chillies – 3 nos ( Split length-wise )

Garlic pods, crushed – 2 nos

Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp

Black pepper powder – 1/4 tsp ( Optional )

Meat masala or Garam masala – 1/2 tsp

Black mustard seeds – 1/8 tsp

Curry leaves – 4 or 5 nos

Salt – to taste (1/4 tsp)

Water – 1/4 tsp

Coconut oil – 1 Tbsp  (You can substitute with vegetable oil or Olive oil, but it is not authentic and the flavor would differ slightly)

METHOD:

Heat oil in a saucepan. When smoking hot, splutter mustard seeds in it.

As soon as they splutter, reduce the heat and add curry leaves, chopped onions, crushed garlic and green chillies. Sauté till the onions become soft. Making sure not to burn them.

Now add chopped green beans along with turmeric powder, black pepper powder, meat masala, salt, 1/4 cup of water  and sauté for few seconds.

Cover the pan and cook on low – medium flame about 10 minutes and then cook uncover for another 5 to 10 minutes until the beans are cooked and water is fully absorbed. Stir in between. Switch off the flame.

Transfer tasty Beans Mezhukku puratti to a serving bowl.

Serve hot with rice.

ANOTHER  METHOD:

• Place all the ingredients except oil, curry leaves and mustard seeds in a large mixing bowl and mix everything well with your hand. Keep it aside.

• Heat oil in a saucepan. When smoking hot, splutter mustard seeds in it.
• As soon as they splutter, reduce the heat and add beans- onion mix to the pan and sauté well.

• Cover and cook it for 1o minutes by adding 1/4 cup of water .
• Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes until the beans cooked well and it become dry.