Chikkudukaya Nuvulapodi Kura (Broad beans Curry with Sesame Powder)

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Chikkudukaya is  called Avarakkai in tamil, broad beans in english and papdi in hindi.

My friend has this vine in her garden and when I visited her, got some fresh chikkudukayalu right off the vine. They were so fresh I wanted to use em immediately. I wanted to make my moms recipe where she cooks em with onions and finishes off with sesame seed powder. It's been a while I made that subji. 

Nutrition: Papdi are Rich in proteins and fiber. Also are rich sources of Vitamin A and C. Chikkudukayalu have good amount of potassium which makes it heart healthy. Another important ingredient sesame seed is a very healthy spice. It has good amounts of unsaturated fatty acids which help lower the bad cholesterol. Also have good amounts of iron and calcium. Together these two makes it a nutritious dish.

In this recipe I used brown sesame seeds usually available in Indian stores. My mom's recipe uses sugar which makes it little sweeter but I don't like that taste  so I didn't use it. If you like you can use may be 1/2 teaspoon sugar at the end. Sesame powder and sugar together gives a nice depth of flavors.Sesame powder also gives a thickness to the curry. 

Servings:
Four (4)
Total time:
35 minutes
Category:
Vegetables
Author:
Praveena Gudipati

Ingredients: (I use US standard measuring; 1cup=8oz=250ml)

• 1/2 pound Chikkudukayalu (Broad beans)
• 1/2 onion
• 1 tablespoon brown sesame seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon chilli powder 
• 2  Tablespoon oil
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• Few Curry leaves
• 2 Red chillies

Chikkudukaya Nuvulapodi Kura step-by-step Recipe with Photos

1. Wash chikkudukayalu .
   
2. Cut em into small pieces. To do this the ends need to be pinched first to remove fiber. Then break em into small pieces with hand.
   
3. Take the pieces in pressure cooker, add water and little salt and pressure cook for 1 whistle.
   
4. While its cooking cut onions into small pieces .
5. Toast the sesame seeds without oil and make a powder in coffee grinder or in mixer.
6. 
   
7. Heat a vessel and take oil in it. Season with mustard and cumin seeds.Then add onions and sautée them till they become translucent. Now is the time to add chikkudukayalu.
8. Once the pressure is gone open the cooker and  drain water and add the pieces to the vessel with onions.
   
   
   
9. Add salt to taste, chilli powder and sesame powder to the curry. Mix nicely.
10. Cook for two minutes and turn off the stove.
    
11. Curry is ready, take it into a serving bowl and enjoy with rice or Chapatis.

Tips: 
Use the drained liquid to make rasam or mix it in soups.


Update: Finally i have a plant of my own in my garden. For last two years I have been enjoying Broad beans from my own yard.Here is a pic. I use em fresh picked out from vine and freeze the excess. In Dallas weather the plant dies off in winters so to access the beans in off season, I freeze them. I clean the Beans, chop em to the size I want and store them in freezer until next season. 

Instant Pot recipe

• I use the below model Instant Pot. I use it mainly to cook Rice, cook lentils, Beans, Curries.

• I have frozen excess of my last year harvest Broad beans in freezer. These are already cleaned, chopped. Today I made this curry in Instant Pot. 
• Clean Broad beans.
• Cut em into small pieces. To do this the ends need to be pinched first to remove fiber. Then break em into small pieces with hand.
• Now you can pressure cook em first and Saute next. Or season and pressure cook directly. Both tastes same. It's just personal preference.
• Add water to Instant Pot main pot. I added 1 cup water.
• Place Trivet and place Broad beans with little water in a steel bowl on top of trivet.
• Pressure cook on High pressure, 3 minutes, Sealing mode and manual release pressure after 5 minutes. Means once cooking done, wait 5 minutes and you can release pressure by turning the whistle to venting side, lift it to release pressure. Do this by wearing a oven mitt or thick Kitchen towel so steam won't burn hand. Or lift using a long ladle.
• Drain any excess water.
• Now turn on Instant pot; Saute mode, normal heat, 10 minutes. Once Instant Pot is dry, add 2 tbsp oil, add 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds, few Curry leaves, 2 broken Red chillies.
• Add chopped onions (1/2 onion). 
• Once Onions brown, add beans, salt to taste, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1 tbsp Chilli powder.
• Mix well.
• Add roasted and ground sesame powder.
• Mix well. Cover with glass lid and cook 2 minutes. Sprinkle water if pot is dry so you do not get Burn notice.
• Press Cancel. Leave few minutes covered. 
• Serve with Rice or Roti.
• Alternatively you can do Saute part first, add fresh beans, Pressure cook.