AVARAKKA/BROAD BEANS/FLAT BEANS

    Avarakkai is not a commonly available vegetable in the local market.  If at all, when we find Avarakka(Broad Beans) in the market, we are sure to pick some. Though we were not a big fan of this vegetable earlier, the unavailability of these Avarakkais locally has made us a fan of Avarakkai in recent times. And we have started to like it. I usually make stir-fries,  simple Poriyals or Kerala style Thoran, Mezhukkupuratti with Avarakka or add it in Sambar or Puli Kuzhambu.
 

    As usual, while I was talking to my Mom, I said that we got Avarakka and we were talking about a few other dishes on the go. Then I remembered a different kind of Upperi my Mom makes with Long Beans, and I was asking her how she makes that. The irony is that I learnt very little from my Mom when it comes to cooking and her style of cooking is still new in my kitchen, except Amma's Varutharacha Sambar & Achan's Erachi Curry.
 

AMMA'S AVARAKKA UPPERI

    Well, this Avarakka Upperi is a simple version with loads of Coconut in it and looks & tastes more or less like Peera Pattichathu. We can make this Upperi with Avarakkai(Broad Beans), Long Beans(Achinga Payar), Bitter Gourd, French Beans or with any vegetable of your choice. Upperi is nothing but a colloquial term used for a stir fry in Kerala with other terms like Poriyal, Thoran, Mezhukkupuratti are all, same versions of simple stir-fries with slight variations, whatsoever.
 

    With initial tempering of Mustard Seeds & Curry Leaves in Coconut Oil we have to add thinly sliced or chopped Avarakka/Long Beans or any other vegetable of your choice, along with Turmeric Powder, Salt & a pinch of sugar into it. Then, we have to add coarsely ground mixture of Coconut, Garlic Cloves, Dry Red Chillies & Cumin Seeds into it and cook the vegetable with a little bit of water. Once cooked, switch off the flame & finish off the Upperi with a drizzle of Coconut Oil. There you go with a simple Avarakka Upperi, a perfect side dish for Rice or Kanji. This Avarakka Upperi can also be served as one of the side dishes in the long list of dishes served in a Kerala Sadhya/Virundhu.
 

    Avarakkai or the Indian Broad Beans are a type of vegetable which belongs to Beans family. It is also called as Flat Beans. It is a good source of Protein, Fibre, Potassium, Iron, Vitamin A, B, C & K. Avarakkai is a Bean like vegetable, green in colour, tender with small seeds. It is loaded with nutrients & also caters a lot of health benefits.  It also aids in weight loss as it is low in calories.

AVARAKKA/BROAD BEANS/FLAT BEANS

• Aids in Weight Loss 
• Improves & Strengthens the bones & hair.
• Good for a healthy Heart
• Helps to reduce Blood Cholesterol
• Improves Digestion
• Relieves Constipation
• Strengthens the Immune System
• Relieves Osteoarthritis
• Helps to reduce the risk of Diabetics   
  

 

Cuisine - Kerala (South India) 
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level - Moderate
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 3-4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 5 -10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 15-20 Minutes

 

HOW TO MAKE AMMA'S AVARAKKA UPPERI

AMMA'S AVARAKKA UPPERI

INGREDIENTS:

 

For Avarakka Upperi:

 

Avarakka/Broad Beans - 2 Cups

Coconut Oil - 1 Tbspn

Mustard Seeds - 1 Tspn

Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Tspn

Salt - To Taste

Sugar - a Pinch

 

To Grind:

Coconut - 1/4 Cup

Garlic - 1-2 Cloves

Dry Red  Chillies - 2 Nos.

Cumin Seeds - a Pinch

 

To Drizzle:

 

 

METHOD:

• Clean, wash & cut the ends of Avarakka/Broad Beans.
• Chop the Avarakka/Broad Beans finely and keep it aside.
• Grind the ingredients mentioned under " To Grind" coarsely & keep it aside.
• Meanwhile, heat Coconut Oil in a pan & splutter Mustard Seeds & Curry Leaves.
• Then, add finely chopped Avarakka/Broad Beans, along with Turmeric Powder, Salt & a pinch of sugar, and give a quick stir.
• Immediately, add coarsely ground Coconut Mixture and mix well.
• Sprinkle a bit of water, cover & cook the vegetable for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cook this on a low flame until the vegetable gets cooked & the raw flavour of the Coconut Mixture is gone.
• Switch off the flame and pour a teaspoon of Coconut Oil over the Avarakka Upperi, mix and keep it covered.
•  Avarakka/Broad Beans Upperi can be served along with Rice & Curry or as one of the side dishes in a Virundhu/Sadhya.

 

NOTES:

 

• Can use Long Beans, French Beans, Bitter gourd or any other vegetable of your choice and make the same recipe.
• I usually chop the vegetables finely for this recipe, can cut into your desired size.
• Using Coconut Oil gives an authentic flavour to this Upperi. Use any other vegetable oil of your choice.
• Adding Sugar helps to retain the green colour in the vegetable, but adding it is purely optional.