Shellfish Free Vegan Beans Poriyal

Total time25 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time15 min

5.0

(15)

This South Indian stir-fry is a vibrant, aromatic side dish that transforms humble green beans into something genuinely exciting. Coconut oil carries a bloom of mustard seeds, cumin, dried red chilies, and curry leaves — that sputtering, fragrant moment in the pan is where all the magic happens. The beans get coated in golden turmeric and spiced oil, steamed just until tender with a satisfying bite, then finished with freshly grated coconut for a subtle sweetness and texture that ties everything together. Every single ingredient here is naturally plant-based and free from any seafood or shellfish, so there's no label-reading stress or substitution gymnastics required. It's the kind of dish that looks and tastes far more complex than the straightforward steps suggest, which makes it a great weeknight addition alongside rice or flatbread. The fresh curry leaves and whole spices do the heavy lifting on flavor, proving you don't need anything fancy to cook something truly memorable.

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Ingredients

4 servings

1 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 dried red chilies, broken in half
10 fresh curry leaves
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp turmeric
½ tsp salt, or to taste
2 tbsp water
⅓ cup freshly grated coconut

Instructions

1
Heat the coconut oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to pop, about 30 seconds.
2
Add the cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Watch closely, as the curry leaves will sputter and the seeds can brown quickly.

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