Yard Long Beans are called Halasandi in my mother tongue Kannada. Growing up, this vegetable was unknown to me, since I grew up in a village (in a different state) where the summer temperatures reached upwards of 110 Fahrenheit. This bean could’ve easily grown in that region, but the local cuisine did not feature it. But when we visited my grandparents’ homes in Karnataka during summer holidays, I would eat this snake-like vegetable with great relish.
Curries are the heart and soul of an Indian meal. Of course, their strength lies in the fact that they are easy to make and add a wonderfully satisfying punch to even the most basic of meals. I loved South Indian curries, even as a child. Infused with freshly grated coconut, these mildly spiced curries could be consumed as is. Or they could be a delicious accompaniment to piping hot rice, rasam and homemade ghee.
The other day, I was surprised to see Yard Long Beans in my local Farmer’s Market. Apparently it is a hot selling item on weekends. If you have never eaten yard long beans, I urge you to give them a chance.
Yard Long Beans Curry
Just like their more popular cousin, aka the French Bean, these snake-like beans are real tasty. Chopping them may look daunting at the beginning, but it really is not. In fact, they are much easier to prep then either French or cluster beans. Just gather a few of them, aligning the stalks. Chop off the stalk part and you can cut a whole bunch of them in a jiffy. Yard long beans are easy to sauté as well. Use medium flame, cover and cook – it takes less than 7 minutes to get done with just the right amount of crunch.
For this curry, I have infused a simple tadka (tempering) of aromatic hing, mustard seeds, couple of varieties of dal, along with curry leaves and dry red chili. The chili peppers are the only things that bring a bit of spice to this dish. You can use the byadige or Kashmiri variety of chili, if you want to keep the dish mild. However, if you want it spicier, feel free to try out the Guntur variety. But be warned – they do add a kick to the curry!
These yard long beans are bursting with nutrition and flavor. Rich in fiber, this snake-like vegetable provides an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, potassium, and iron. “Eating the Rainbow” couldn’t get any easier, right?!
Nutritious Curry Recipes
Try a few of my favorites…
- Cabbage-Capsicum Kura
- Moringa (Drumstick) Leaf Curry with Roasted Peanuts
- Spicy Mushroom Curry
- Easy Cabbage-Ginger Sauté
- Green Beans Matwadi Palya
- Aloo Palak
- Delish Bell Pepper & Eggplant Sauté
- Yard-to-Table Beet Leaf Thoran
- Blended Chana & Cluster Bean Curry
- Sautéed Okra
Do you love our posts and recipes? We’d LOVE to see your creations so click a photo and tag us on Instagram with the hashtag #healthyindian3 and please give a star (★) rating below. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube & Tumblr for healthy, easy and delicious recipes and lifestyle tips.
*There could be affiliate links in this blog. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Yard Long Beans Curry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Yard Long Beans - Chopped 1/2" long
- 1 Teaspoon Avocado Oil
- 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 1 Teaspoon Chana Dal
- 1 Teaspoon Urad Dal
- 1/8 Teaspoon Asafoetida (Hing)
- 4 Dry Red Chili - Or to taste
- 1 Sprig Curry Leaves
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt - Or to taste
- 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 2 Tablespoon Grated Coconut - Fresh or frozen
- 1 Tablespoon Cilantro
- 1 Teaspoon Lime Juice - Or lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash yard long beans and drain. Hold the stalk ends together and cut them off (compost the stalks). Chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Heat oil in a pan. Splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chana dal, urad dal and asafetida (hing). Stir for a few seconds.
- Add dry red chili and curry leaves and give it another stir until curry leaves wilt slightly.
- Add chopped yard long beans, salt and turmeric powder. Mix well, cover the pan and allow to cook. Stir occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom. Add a few drops of water and/or lower the flame, if needed.
- Once the yard long beans are crisply done, add grated coconut, fresh lime or lemon juice and chopped fresh cilantro. Turn off the flame, mix well.
- Serve as a salad, or as a side with roti or rice/rasam.