KOTHAVARAKKA SUBZI (CLUSTER BEANS)

Kothavrakka, kothavrakkai, cluster beans, gawar beans, mattkayalu, is known as in different names,  we are familiar with.  various dishes are made out of this in different regions.  we can also make vattal out of it.  vattal means it is cooked with salt and turmeric and dried in hot sun.  when it is fully dried, you can store it in airtight container and keep it.  It is fried in oil and consumed along with sambar rice, rasam rice, curd rice, dal rice etc. and even used to make kuzhambu.

It has got slightly a bitter taste hence most of the children avoid eating this.  In my early child hood, I never used to like this as it has got little bit of bitter taste hence i always tell amma please do not make this bhaji but she used to say you must eat  everything whether it is sweet, sour, bitter whatever it is.  Hence I used to obey her and developed the taste of bitter gourd, kothavarakkai etc. Thanks to her for making us to eat compulsorily all the vegetables.  while we can make thoran, gravy subzi, dry subzi, usili etc, let us take a look at this recipe nowI

KOTHAVARAKKA  SUBZI

Preparation time:  15 minutes
cooking time:  15 -20 minutes
serves: 2


Ingredients:

Cluster beans             100 gms

Kothavarakka

grated coconut            2 tbsp
tuvar dal                      3 tbsp
onion chopped             1 onion
turmeric powder          less than 1/4 tsp
green or red chilli         1         (adjust according to your spice level)
cumin seeds                 1/4 tsp
mustard seeds              1 tsp
urid dal                         1 tsp
oil                                1 tsp
asafoetida                     1 pinch
garlic cloves                 2
ginger                           a small piece
salt as per taste
curry leaves

Method:

1.  wash and cut both the ends of the cluster beans.
2.  cut each one  into three  to four pcs as shown in the picture.

chopped kothavrakka and onion

 3.  soak the tuvar dal for 30 minutes.

soaked tuvar dal, ready to grind items.

4.  grind the coconut, tuvar dal, ginger garlic etc coarsely and keep aside

tuvar dal, coconut mix

5.  Boil a cup of water in a kadai, add turmeric powder and salt along with the cluster beans and cook the same for 5-7 minutes, drain and keep aside.

cooked kothavrakka

6.  chop the onion
 

7.  in a kadai, add oil, splutter mustard seed and urid dal, curry leaves.

tadka

8.  add asafoetida, add onion and saute for 2-3 minutes.

saute onion

9.  add the coconut tuvar dal mix and saute for another 2 minutes

Added ground turval dal and coconut

10.  add the cooked cluster beans.  check and adjust salt and mix well.

Added kothavarakka

mixed everything together

11.  allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, cover  and switch off gas and keep on gas for another five minutes.the subzi is ready to serve.

How to serve:

Serve hot with chapati, phulka, rice etc.

THANKS YOU FOR VISITING THE BLOG.  YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME.