Sweet and Sour Cluster Beans

Goru Chikkudu Pulusu Bellam.

Cluster beans are stringed and chopped into small pieces. They are then boiled in water till soft. Oil is tempered with few spices along with chana dal and cluster beans are stirred in. The fried cluster beans are finished with tamarind pulp and mashed jaggery. Tamarind imparts a sour taste while jaggery gives a sweet taste to the curry.
Makes: 1 1/2 Cups of Sweet and Sour Cluster Beans

Ingredients:

Cluster Beans 1 1/2 Cups chopped
Jaggery (mashed) 1 1/2 tbsp
Tamarind 2 inch sized ball
Red Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder a pinch
Salt to taste

Talimpu:

Fenugreek Seeds a small pinch
Chana Dal 1/2 tsp
Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves 10
Broken Red Chiles 3
Oil 2 tsps

Method of preparation:

Wash thoroughly and string the cluster beans if necessary.
Remove little bit of both ends and chop cluster beans into small pieces.
Soak tamarind in half a cup of water for sometime and extract all the juice.

Heat 3 cups of water in a sauce pot and add in cluster beans and little salt.
Boil till cluster beans are cooked and turn soft but not mushy.
Strain the cluster beans and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When chana dal changes color, add cluster beans and fry until beans are a bit dry and starts to brown.
Then stir in tamarind extract, mashed jaggery, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.
Adjust any seasonings required and fry for a minute or two until cluster beans absorb all the flavors.
Serve sweet and sour cluster beans with plain steamed rice or with roti.
Notes:Make sure cluster beans are boiled till soft before proceeding with tempering.

Suggestions: If cluster beans are not soft, add few tbsps of water into the curry and cook covered on low flame till done.
Variations: Cluster Beans with Coconut, Cluster Beans with Split Moong Dal, Cluster Beans with Milk.
Other Names:Goru Chikkudu Teepi Kura, Guar Bean Curry, Kotthavarai Curry.

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