This is a classic North Indian style vegetable stir fry or subzi. We often add aloo (potatoes) to vegetables and thus you will often see dishes like beans aloo, gobhi aloo (cauliflower and potatoes), baingan aloo (eggplant and potatoes), ..I could go on and on.., on the menu in Indian homes. At my parent's home, a meal usually consists of a dal (lentil stew) and some kind of subzi along with roti and home-made yoghurt.
This dish is quick and easy to make and the mild spices here compliment the vegetables without overpowering their taste. Many people add ginger, garlic, onions etc. to their beans aloo but my mother likes to keep it simple and I love it because it really lets the vegetables shine.
Beans aloo pair really well with a plain and simple dal like this Moong Masoor Dal recipe. However, if you're looking for a quick fix, my favourite way to eat beans aloo is with some good old plain yoghurt. I think it's a combination made in heaven.
- 300g green beans
- 350g potatoes
- 1 tbsp mustard oil or any other cooking oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric (haldi)
- 2 tsp coriander seed powder (dhaniya powder)
- 1/2 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
- 1 pinch garam masala
- a few drops lime or lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp or to taste salt
- Slice the beans in 1.5 cm pieces and chop the potatoes in 1 cm cubes.
- Add the mustard oil to a hot pan and wait for it to smoke.
- Add the cumin seeds and once they splutter, add the potatoes and the turmeric.
- Once the potatoes start to cook add the coriander powder and the red chilli powder followed by the beans and salt.
- Cook on medium to low heat with the lid on till the vegetable soften. Check in on them from time to time as they may start to stick to the bottom. If you see that the bottom of the pan is too dry, add in a tablespoon or two of water from time to time. This will help cook the vegetables faster.
- Once the beans are soft and the potatoes are cooked through add the garam masala. Turn off the heat and add a splash of lime or lemon juice.
- Taste for seasoning (salt and spice) and enjoy with some yoghurt.