Beans Paruppu Usili

Usili is a simple stir fry that is made using any beans variety, or banana flower or banana stem, the most common being french beans. But the yardlong beans and broad beans make good candidates too. It is best served with sambar, white rice and a dollop of ghee. It is a typical TAMBRAHM dish and their kalyaana saapadu is never complete without serving this. Loads of crunchy yet soft channa dhal with the nearly cooked veggie makes it a perfect winner.

Amma usually makes usili with broad beans and thats how I know the dish. But the other day when I was talking to her, topics changed and somehow we landed up discussing "usili". That is when she told me that usili is traditionally made with french beans... And then I wanted to have a taste of it. This goes well with sambar saadam or dhal rice but you could serve it with tomato rice too just like I did.

~*What U Need*~ Beans - 1/4 kg Medium sized Onion - 1 Channa dhal - 1/2 cup Curry leaves - 1 sprig Urad dhal -1 tsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Oil -2 tablespoons Salt - to taste

How I Made it:
Soak the channa dhal in water overnight. Blend this into a coarse mixture say 1 or 2 pulses. Set aside. hop the onions and beans. Heat oil and add the mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Next add the curry leaves and then urad dhal. When the urad dhal has turned brown, add the onions and sauté till glassy.

Add the pulsed channa dhal and fry till it turns light brown. Add the beans, sprinkle some water and cook till soft. Add chilli powder and salt and mix well. Remove from flame.

Serve with rice!!!

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!