Maunika Gowardhan’s runner beans phali ki sabzi . Photograph: Ola O Smit/The Guardian. Food styling: Aya Nishimura. Prop styling: Polly Webb-Wilson. Food styling assistant: Laura Lawrence. View image in fullscreen Maunika Gowardhan’s runner beans phali ki sabzi . Photograph: Ola O Smit/The Guardian. Food styling: Aya Nishimura. Prop styling: Polly Webb-Wilson. Food styling assistant: Laura Lawrence. Food Sabzi and thoran: Maunika Gowardhan’s recipes for Indian-style runner beans The distinct spices of their respective regions make these approaches to runner beans uniquely different, but equally flavourful
Prefer the Guardian on Google I always look forward to runner bean season, and especially to cooking them in stir-fries with Indian spices. Today’s recipes are very different from each other, not least because they hail from two very different regions, namely Rajasthan and Kerala, respectively, both of which have their own distinct spices and flavours.
In summer, this sabzi is on rotation in my home. The sourness of dried mango powder and the kick of chilli work really well with the beans, while the addition of mustard oil lends a lovely, pungent flavour. Served with plain rice or chapatis and some yoghurt, this makes for a great midweek dinner.
3 tbsp mustard oil , or vegetable oil 1 pinch asafoetida 1 tsp cumin seeds 5cm piece root ginger , peeled and finely chopped 650g runner beans , trimmed, destringed and cut into roughly 2cm-long, bite-size pieces 250g boiled potatoes , peeled and roughly chopped ½ tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp mango powder (AKA amchoor) Salt , to taste 1 pinch white granulated sugar 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander , to finish
Put the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan on a medium heat and, when it’s hot, add the asafoetida and cumin seeds. The moment they start to splutter, add the ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then stir in the beans, turn down the heat to low, cover and leave to cook for 10-12 minutes.
Add the boiled potatoes, chilli powder, turmeric and mango powder, stir to combine, then season with salt to taste and add a pinch of sugar. Cover again, and leave to fry for two to three minutes.
Take off the heat, garnish with the coriander and serve with plain rice or chapatis and plain yoghurt.
View image in fullscreen Maunika Gowardhan’s runner bean thoran. A classic side dish from Kerala, thoran can be made with all kinds of vegetables. I’ve used vegetable oil, but if you have some coconut oil to hand, it will give much more flavour to the dish. Traditionally, this would be served with Keralan matta rice (or plain rice) and some dal.
3 tbsp vegetable oil , or coconut oil, if you have some 1½ tsp black mustard seeds ½ tsp cumin seeds 1 whole dried mild red chilli , halved lengthways 3 garlic cloves , peeled and finely chopped 2 green bird’s-eye chillies , finely chopped (if you prefer less heat, remove and discard the pith and seeds first) 100g white onion , finely chopped 10-12 fresh curry leaves 150g grated fresh coconut 650g runner beans , trimmed, destringed and cut into roughly 2cm-long, bite-sized pieces 1 tsp turmeric powder ½ tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1 heaped tsp ground coriander Salt , to taste 1 pinch white granulated sugar ½ lemon About 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander , to garnish
Put the oil in a large, nonstick saucepan on a medium flame, add the mustard seeds and, when they start to splutter, stir in the cumin seeds and dried red chilli, and stir-fry…