Purely Pedestrian: Amarakka Thoran or Broad Beans / Sem Sabzi

Continuing with dishes from my mom's kitchen, today's recipe is Amarakka Thoran. Amarakka is known as Broad Beans in English and Sem in Hindi. This vegetable is from the green beans family but is flat and broad and about 3 to 4 inch long. In Malayalam, the two beans - cluster beans / gavar and broad beans / sem is so similar in name - kothavarakka and amarakka, that people confuse one for the other and vice versa. I am one of those people, and everytime I have to mention one of these beans I say both kothavarakka and amarakka in a questionning tone and my mom corrects me. At home, there is no question of mentioning this since my husband does not eat either of them and hence is not bought at all.

So today, I bring my mother's recipe for Amarakka Thoran. Thoran is basically any vegetable prepared with fresh grated coconut.

Ingredients

Amarakka / Broad Beans / Sem - 250 gms

Green chilli - 2

Curry leaves - a sprig

Turmeric pwd - 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Dry red chilli - 2

Coconut, grated - 1/4 cup

Oil - 2 tsp

Salt as per taste

Cut the ends of the amarakka / broad beans / sem and wash it well. Dry and then chop them in 1/4 inch pieces.

Heat a kadai or pan and add oil. When the oil is hot add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Then add the broken dry chillies and stir a couple of times. To this, add the chopped amarakka / broad beans / sem pieces along with turmeric powder, green chilli, curry leaves and a little salt and mix well. Add a few tablespoons water and cover with deep plate and add some water in it and cook on low heat. Uncover the lid after about 8 to 10 minutes to check if there is sufficient water to cook the vegetable and stir and let it cook. When the vegetable is almost done add the grated coconut and stir and cook till done. This allows the amarakka to absorb the coconut flavor. Take off the heat and keep covered till ready to serve.