How to cook Cluster Beans
Cluster beans can be prepared in various ways, depending on your taste preferences and the cuisine you prefer. Here's a simple recipe for cooking cluster beans as a stir-fry or sabzi (vegetable dish) using basic ingredients. This recipe serves approximately 2-4 people as a side dish:
Ingredients
- 250 grams about 1/2 pound cluster beans (gawar/gawar phali)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil such as vegetable oil or mustard oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1-2 dried red chili peppers optional, for heat
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced optional
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder adjust to your spice preference
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Cluster Beans:
- Wash the cluster beans thoroughly under running water.
- Trim the ends and any tough or stringy parts. You can snap them by hand or use a knife to cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Parboil the Cluster Beans:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
- Add the trimmed cluster beans to the boiling water.
- Boil for about 3-4 minutes until they become slightly tender but still retain their crispness.
- Drain the boiled cluster beans and rinse them with cold water. This helps to stop the cooking process and retain their bright green color.
Prepare the Spice Mix:
- In a small bowl, combine the turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and red chili powder with a couple of tablespoons of water to make a paste. This will ensure even distribution of the spices in the dish.
Cooking the Cluster Beans:
- Heat the cooking oil in a pan or skillet over medium heat.
- Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Let them splutter and sizzle for a few seconds.
- Add the dried red chili peppers (if using) and chopped onions. Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute (if using).
- Stir in the spice paste you prepared earlier. Cook for a couple of minutes until the oil begins to separate from the spice mix.
- Add the parboiled cluster beans to the pan, along with salt. Stir well to coat the beans with the spice mixture.
Cover and Cook:
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the cluster beans cook for about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning. The beans should become tender but still retain some crunch.
Garnish and Serve:
- Once the cluster beans are cooked to your liking, remove them from heat.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (if desired).
- Serve the cluster beans stir-fry as a side dish with rice or flatbreads (roti/naan).
Notes
Feel free to adjust the spice levels and seasonings according to your taste preferences. This recipe provides a basic guideline, and you can customize it with additional ingredients like grated coconut, chopped tomatoes, or ground spices to create variations in flavor. Enjoy your homemade cluster beans stir-fry!