The dry vegetable curries called thuvaran or poriyal or the kuzhambus or gravy dishes would require oil only for thaalippu or tadka (seasoning). I believe in minimum oil usage in any receipe.

A little bit of patient research showed me that using five teaspoons of oil in a recipe and two teaspoons did not make any difference. Only when nearly eight to ten teaspoons of oil is used, there is remarkable shine and glow in the end product. Greasy food is not healthy food. So, when I am not ready to use ten teaspoons in a dish, why use five when two teaspoons give the same result!! In fact two teaspoons is for those who really feel it is an insult to the vegetables not providing  adequate oil – one teaspoon is sufficient though. I use only one.

These are some of the dishes which come out really well without any bonding with the pan in spite of the one teaspoon oil. For those who find it difficult, can try initially with two. If you relish the slight glow in the finished dish while serving, use one teaspoon (or no oil) for cooking and heat one teaspoon oil and give a tadka at the end. You are nearly there with the glow of 10 teaspoon oil.

I always add garlic to most of my dishes as I believe in its medicinal properties. It adds to the flavour in dry recipes and helps in combatting gastric problems. Ginger and garlic are two ingredients which can be altered as per one’s taste preferences.

Beans Pachai payaru Thuvaran – Beans and Green gram dry curry

steamed beans

cooked green gram

thuvaran – dry curry

Ingredients

• Green beans – 500 gms
• Cooked green gram  – 1 cup
• Oil – 1 tsp
• Garlic – 3 cloves mashed coarsely
• Green chillies – 2 no.s split into halves
• Red chillies – 2 no.s broken into two  
• Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves – a few
• Salt – to taste
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida (Perungayam /Hing) – 1/2 tsp
• Grated coconut – 1/2 cup (optional)

Method of preparation

1. Finely cut green beans and steam in microwave for seven minutes
2. If cooking in a pressure cooker, use water in the base of the cooker and cook beans without water in a smaller vessel inside
3. Green gram should not be cooked mushy; it should be intact 
4. Take one tsp cooking oil in a wide pan or kadai – (Iruppu Chatti)
5. Add mustard seeds; when it splutters add urad dal
6. Simmer and add curry leaves, crushed garlic and both the chillies
7. Garlic is optional – It’s good as it reduces gastric problems which might arise due to the green gram
8. Fry just for a few seconds since there is very little oil in the Chatti, it might get burnt easily
9. Add the cooked beans and mix well
10. Sprinkle turmeric powder and salt and mix
11. Add the cooked green gram dal and mix all together
12. Always keep the stove in minimum heat and close with lid for a couple of minutes
13. Open the lid and stir for another minute and its done
14. Sprinkle asafoetida on top and mix well (Asafoetida powder can also be added to oil initially if one dislikes the fresh sprinkled smell on top
15. Also sprinkle freshly grated coconut
16. Ready to serve with Rice and Kuzhambu/Chappathi and dal