kothavarai (cluster beans) Poriyal Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Cluster Beans

Wash the cluster beans thoroughly and chop them into small, bite-sized pieces. Place the chopped beans in a pressure cooker, add enough water to cover them, and add salt to taste. Pressure cook for one whistle until tender.

Step 2: Prepare Ground Mixture

In a blender jar, add 1/4 cup of peanuts, 3 dried red chilies, and 10 garlic cloves. Grind them into a coarse powder using the pulse mode. Set aside.

Step 3: Prepare Tempering

Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan. Once hot, add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon of chana dal, and 1 teaspoon of urad dal. Fry until the dals turn golden brown.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatics

Add 1 chopped onion and a few sprigs of curry leaves to the pan. Sauté until the onions become translucent, about 3-5 minutes.

Step 5: Add Turmeric and Ground Mixture

Add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder to the pan and mix well. Immediately add the prepared coarse ground mixture of peanuts, dried red chilies, and garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 6: Combine with Cooked Beans

Add the pressure-cooked cluster beans to the pan with the tempering and ground mixture. Mix everything thoroughly, ensuring the spices are evenly coated on the beans. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.

Step 7: Serve

Once well combined and heated through, the Kothavarai Poriyal is ready to be served hot as a delicious side dish.

• Adjust salt to taste after adding the cooked beans.

• Ensure the dals are well-fried for a nutty flavor.

• Serving this dish once a week is beneficial for health.