South Indian French beans stir fry or beans poriyal  is a simple side dish made with French beans and cooked with coconut, cumin seeds and red chillies.  It is served as an accompaniment for rice.  Poriyal is a Tamil word for shallow frying along with mild spices.

This recipe is one of the easiest and most popular side dish in South India.  Poriyal refers to vegetables simply stir-fried with spices and grated coconut.   Curry leaves and coconut along with mild spices gives a unique flavor to the dish.  The same recipe can be used for making carrot poriyal, beetroot poriyal  and cabbage poriyal.  It is also makes for a healthy and fresh side dish, as less oil and spices are used for preparing this subzi.

Green beans are low in calories and fat and contains no cholesterol.  The fiber content is very high and also provides daily protein requirements.  They are also high in vitamin A, C, K and folic acied and a good source of calcium, iron, manganese potassium and copper.  Green beans are a great source of folic acid and boosts immunity.

Do try this coconut based South Indian beans stir-fry and as an accompaniment for steamed rice and sambar!!

HOW TO MAKE OR PREPARE GREEN BEANS PORIYAL/SUBZI RECIPE

PREPARATION

Rinse the green beans thoroughly with water.  Drain them and remove both the ends and the side strings of the beans.  Chop them into small pieces and keep it aside.

Pressure cook them for upto 2 whistles.  This process helps to make the cooking much faster.  Cook the beans only till 3/4 th cooked.  Do not cook them fully as it will get mashed while cooking.

METHOD

Heat oil in a kadai on medium flame.  Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, red chillies and hing.  Fry them till the dals turn light golden in colour.   Add curry leaves and turmeric powder.  Saute for few seconds.

Add the partially cooked green beans and mix well.

Cook for 10 minutes on a low to medium flame till the beans are fully cooked and the water is absorbed fully if any.  Add the required salt and give a good mix.  Cook on a low flame for another 2 minutes.

Lastly add grated fresh coconut and mix well.  Switch off the flame.

Serve the French beans poriyal hot  with sambar and steamed rice and enjoy!!

NOTES / TIPS

Use coconut oil for a unique and authentic flavor to the poriyal.

Chop the green beans into small pieces, so that it is evenly cooked and gives a nice taste to the dish.

Tender green beans are good for making this poriyal, as it cooks faster and tastes good too.

You can also cook the green beans in an open vessel directly by adding water and then cooking them till green beans are well cooked.  This may take around 20-25 minutes to cook the beans.