French Green Beans & Potato Curry

It can be prepared in under 30 minutes, and serves well with either Chapatis, other flat breads, or even Rice. Plus, it is extremely healthy too! Just add some Potatoes to the recipe and you might find up the acceptance level a notch. And if you still have picky eaters on your table, try the Kid-friendly Recipe tip I have added at the end of the post – it might just help you push some of those essential veggies down your tiny-tot’s throat!

French Green Bean & Potato Curry (Choli nu Shaak)

Ingredients
3 cups freshly cut green french beans
1.5 cups potato – chopped into small cubes
3 tbsp oil
4 cloves of garlic – finely minced
salt and sugar – to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 – 1 tsp red chili powder
2 tsp dhana-jeeru powder
a bunch of cilantro – finely chopped
lemon juice – to taste
a pinch of baking soda (or Eno fruit salt)
* This helps the beans cook well

Method
Wash the cut french beans thoroughly under running water. Then transfer to a pressure cooker, add a pinch of salt and a pinch of eating soda, and cook for 2-3 whistles so the beans become soft. but not mushy. Alternately, you can boil them on the stove or in a microwave to cook the beans, making sure that they are not overcooked, and retain their structure.

Now take a cooking pan. Add the oil to it and let it heat for about a minute. Then add the chopped garlic and fry for a minute. When it starts getting roasted and fragrant, add the chopped potatoes and drizzle with about 1/4 cup water. then cover with a lid and let the potatoes get cooked. You could even use boiled potatoes instead, but its easier to overcook potatoes when you boil them. Microwaving in little water until para-boiled will work well too.

Once the potatoes are cooked, lower the flame and add the pre-cooked green beans and mix well. Then add all the spices, salt and sugar to the curry and mix well. Do not add lemon juice yet, as it may prevent the vegetables from getting thoroughly cooked.

Once the spices have blended with the vegetables and the curry has attained color, remove the pan from the stove, and add the lemon juice. Sprinkle with a generous bunch of chopped cilantro and give a final whisk.

A delicious and very healthy French bean & Potato curry is ready! Serve it with some Rotis or Parathas, or use it as a side dish with Rice. It tastes great, is easy to prepare, and will give you loads of vitamins and nutrients in one serving of the curry.

Kid-friendly Tip: Try mixing a few spoons of yogurt in the curry to cut on the spice level. Then spoon it into a Paratha, sprinkle some shredded cheese on the top, and roll the paratha to make a wrap. Your kids will love the new take on food, and you will be able to get some hale and hearty greens into their system!

Related Recipes
Mooli Paratha (Stuffed Radish Flatbread)
Toor Dal Recipe
Makhmali Dum Aloo