Avaraikkai Paruppu Usili Recipe / Broad Beans Paruppu Usili

     Paruppu usili is one of the tastiest variations that can be tried with broad beans/ normal string beans etc. This traditional recipe from Tamil Nadu, finds its place on a banana leaf in almost every TamBrahm wedding or function.
I have made this only a couple of times, as it involves a little extra work with respect to the dal part, when compared with the preparation of a usual side-dish. Though it pairs up well with any sambar or rasam, it tastes so perfect with morkootan/morekuzhambu.

Prep Time: 10 mins || Cook Time: 25 mins + cooking time for dal || Serves: 2 || Category: Side-dish / paruppu usili

Ingredients:
1. Avaraikkai (Broad beans) - 150gms
2. Toor dal - 50 gms
3. Red Chilli - 1 (As the red chillies are too hot here)
4. Hing - 3 tsp
5. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
6. Salt - as required
7. Oil - 2 tbsp
8. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Method:
1. Wash and cut broad beans retaining its seeds too. Wash the toor dal and chilli.

2. Grind the toor dal and chilli coarsely in a blender sprinkling very little water.

3. Spread the crumbled dal in a container and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles. Once cooked, separate the dal or crumble them again using a laddle or spoon or with hand.

4. In a kadai, heat a tbsp of oil and add the cooked toor dal , hing curry leaves and saute them for 2 mins and transfer to a plate. To the same kadai, add a tbsp of oil and let the mustard seeds splutter. Add the cut broad beans and give a stir.

5. Cook covered for 8-10 mins or until the broad beans gets cooked well and changes from fresh green to a dull green colour. Now add the cooked & sauteed dal and mix well with enough salt. Saute for 2-3 mins and switch off the flame.

Suggestions:

• Toor dal can also be pressure cooked first and then coarsely ground in the blender.
• Channa dal can also be used in the place of toor dal. Or a mix of toor dal and channa dal can be used too.
• Coconut oil can be used instead of normal cooking oil, to give a nice aroma.

A splendid combination for morkootan/morkuzhambu !!!