Thursday, January 15, 2009

Cranberry beans koottu

I am introduced to cranberry beans after coming to NJ only. While I was browsing through a chinese food market, I bumped on this lovely veggie that resembles much of an Indian butter beans. Before that I wanna share some memories on butter beans.
Butter beans is a famous , expensive but rare vegetable found in Tirunelveli / Tuticorin markets. Even in Madras I have not spotted this beans any where. We make a koottu (curry) out of it along with sambar rice. My Mom used to prepare it with Paruppu kulambu and I love those tongue tickling moments.
I applied the same formula with cranberry beans and the result was amazing. So in your next visit to any Asian food market look for this beans and enjoy this curry :)



cranberry beans / butter beans curry
Ingredients:
Cranberry beans/ butter beans - 1 lb
Shallot onion - 4
Shredded coconut - 2 tbsp
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
oil - 1 tsp
fennel seeds (sombu)- 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 brig
coriander powder - 2 tsp
red chilli powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - a pinch
tomato - 1 (chopped)
salt - to taste

Procedure:

Shell the cranberry beans , wash and clean the beans inside.
Bring to boil enough water and cook the beans to tender.
In a Indian mixer/ any blender grind the shallot, coconut and cumin seeds together to a coarse paste.
Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. Add the fennel seeds and let it become red. Then goes the curry leaves.
Immediately add the cooked beans along with the remaining water.
Now add coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt.
Slide in chopped tomatoes. Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes.
Then introduce the ground masala and keep stirring occasionally, till the koottu / curry becomes a gravy.
Butter beans/ cranberry beans koottu is ready.

Serving suggestions:

Makes nearly 600 ml of curry.
Serves 4 people .
Serve hot with chapathi, roti , vegetable pulav,or as side dish with sambar & rice.

Cranberry beans koottu goes to Legume affair hosted by Srivalli and Susan.
Also it will be seen in the Sunshine mom's FIC_ Yellow event.

18 comments:

Indian Khana said...

Ahh cranberry beans koottu is sure new...looks tasty and yummy..

Chitra said...

new to me.looks delicious:)

Cham said...

Sure the bean is pretty attractive and the koottu sounds good too!

Shama Nagarajan said...

butterbeans will be available more in madurai..my hometown.....my family's most favourite.......lovely recipe.....

Varsha Vipins said...

Lovely curry..Il try this beans soon..:)

Raks said...

Anything with sombu I love it! Should be flavorful!

Unknown said...

this is so new to me....looks yumm..

Adlak's tiny world said...

kootu looks awesome and tasty too.. i love all kinds of kootu.

Gita Jaishankar said...

Very innovative recipe Viki, looks so delicious :)

Swapna said...

Lovely dish...
Will try soon.

Premyscakes said...

Hi Vikki, kootu looks great and i have never heard of cranberry beans. what do u call in tamil, iam very eager to know.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks Priti.
Thanks Chitra.
Thanks Cham.
Thanks Shama. Yes dear, It is a famous 'kaai' in our place.
Thanks Varsha.
Thanks Raks.
Thanks sowmya.
Thanks Adlak.
Thanks Gita.
Thamks Swapna.
Thanks Premy. Actually there is no tamil name for cranberry beans , I think. But it resembles a vegetable called butter beans, that we get in south TamilNadu.

sriharivatsan said...

Kootu is my alltime favo..I have craved for kootu when I was pregnant..So does my son now..Looking yummy..

Preety said...

never heard of cranberry beans b4..but the dish looks yummy

Priya Suresh said...

I have seen these beans in Farmer's market, but never thought of buying them..kootu looks really delicious...

Sunshinemom said...

New beans, and tasty beans:) Looks delish!

Malar Gandhi said...

I bought these beans last season from Amish place...had no clue what to do. Whatever I tried...wasnt that pleasant!

Now I gathered some confidence...after seeing ur recipe, wish to give it a try again!:)

Sunshinemom said...

Thank you, Viki!

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