Paruppu Usili

You can make this recipe using green beans (see pic), cluster beans (kothavarakkai) or banana flower (vazhaipoo). If making with banana flower, add a little jaggery also to the recipe in the end to ward off the bitter taste.

Ingredients

Beans : 1/4 kg
Toor Dal : 1/2 cup
Chana Dal : 1/4 cup
Asafoetida : 1/4 tsp
Red chillies : 8
Mustard seeds : 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil as required
Coconut oil : 2 tsp

Method

1. Soak chana dal and toor dal together for 1 hr. Drain the water, add red chillies, asafoetida and some salt and grind to a smooth paste by adding as little water as possible.
2. Steam this mixture on idli plates and break them so that there are no lumps. This is the usili. Keep aside
3. Chop beans fine and boil with a little salt and water just enough for the beans to absorb and cook well under cover.
4. Take coconut oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Add the usili and saute on medium flame for 10 min, tossing regularly to avoid burning.
5. Add the boiled beans and mix well.
6. Serve with mor kozhambu or thakkali kai pitla.