South Indian · serves 2

Beans Thoran

Twenty minutes, one vegetable, coconut. Makes a plain rice-and-dal plate complete.

20 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 400g green beans, very finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup grated coconut
  • 2 green chillies
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 3 garlic cloves (optional)
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp urad dal
  • 20 curry leaves
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil

Method

  1. Chop the beans as finely as you can — thoran is about everything being the same tiny size.
  2. Crush the coconut with green chillies, cumin and garlic coarsely. Don't blend it into a paste.
  3. Mustard seeds till they pop, urad dal till golden, curry leaves.
  4. Beans, turmeric and salt. Sprinkle 3 tbsp water, cover, cook 8 minutes on low.
  5. Coconut mixture in, toss, cover 2 more minutes.
  6. Uncover and dry it out. It should be completely dry, never wet.

Questions people ask about Beans Thoran

How long does Beans Thoran take?

About 20 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. That is start-to-finish, so it works on a weeknight when you have not planned anything.

What is the one thing to get right in Beans Thoran?

Crush the coconut with green chillies, cumin and garlic coarsely. Don't blend it into a paste.

Can I make Beans Thoran ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Beans Thoran vegetarian?

Yes, and as written it is vegan too. Check your specific brands if that matters to you.

What do you serve with Beans Thoran?

Steamed rice with a spoon of ghee, and a papad if you have one. It serves two as written. Double everything to feed four, but use a wider pan so the food still browns rather than steams.

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