Flat Beans: 5 Recipes With Sem Phali You Must Try
Image Credit: Freepik

A staple in many Indian homes, flat beans—also called sem phali or val papdi—are prized for their distinct taste and health advantages. These are long flat pods that should form a part of our daily diet as they contain large proportions of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. From easy stir-fries to delicate curries, these beans are well-known for their mildly sweet flavour and soft texture when cooked properly. Proper cleaning, stringing, and selecting young, tender pods guarantee the finest flavour and texture. Here are five flat bean recipes that are really tasty, and very easy to prepare.

Flat Bean Potato Stir Fry

A simple yet tasty recipe, flat bean potato stir fry blends the sharpness of flat beans with the earthy flavour of potatoes. The first step in making this dish is to wash and chop the flat beans into little pieces. Add the mustard seeds and heat the oil in a skillet until they sputter. After that, add the chopped onions and cook until they become transparent. Add the chopped potatoes and flat beans next, and for extra spiciness, season with salt, turmeric, and red chilli powder. To keep the vegetables from sticking, cover the skillet and simmer them until they are soft, stirring regularly. You may serve this stir fry with rice or chapatis as a side dish.

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Aloo Baigan Sem Phali Sabzi

The combination of potatoes (aloo), eggplants (baigan), and flat beans (sem phali) in Aloo Baigan Sem Phali Sabzi is delicious. For those who enjoy the delicious taste of in-season vegetables combined with Indian spices, this recipe is perfect.  Start by chopping the flat beans into small pieces and cubing the potatoes and eggplants. Heat oil deep bottom pan, put the chopped onions and cumin seeds in it, and fry to golden brown.  Since potatoes take longer to cook, add them first. When they are a little tender, add the eggplant cubes and flat beans, as well as the spices (garam masala, turmeric, and coriander powder). Cook until all the vegetables are soft and the spices are evenly distributed. This sabzi goes well with paratha or roti.

Moong Dal With Flat Beans

A healthy combination of the delicate flavour of flat beans and the protein-rich moong dal (split green gramme) is moong dal with flat beans. To prepare this recipe, first, soak the moong dal for around half an hour, then cook it in a large pot or pressure cooker until it is tender. Curry leaves, diced onions, and mustard seeds are added to hot oil in a separate pan. You should add the chopped tomatoes, followed by the cumin powder and red chilli powder after the onions have turned caramelised. After the tomatoes have softened, add the cooked moong dal, chopped flat beans, and enough water to reach the consistency you want. Serve hot over steamed rice or rotis after simmering until the flavours combine.

Flat Beans Bhaji

Flat beans Bhaji is a traditional Indian dish which doesn’t need much processing but enhances the real flavours of flat beans. First, chop the flat beans into little pieces after giving them a good wash. Heat the oil in a pan, then add the mustard seeds and break black gram (urad dal) until golden brown. After that, add the chopped onions and cook until they are transparent. Lastly, put the garlic paste which gives the flavour. Incorporate the chopped flat beans, salt, turmeric powder, and green chillies for seasoning. To make the bhaji soft, cover the pan and let it cook in its own steam. The ideal way to enjoy this bhaji is as a side dish with chapati or rice.

Image Credit: Freepik

Sem Ki Phalli Ka Salan

The rich dish known as Sem Ki Phalli Ka Salan features flat beans in a tamarind and coconut paste-based spicy gravy. Cut the flat beans into small pieces and grind the fresh coconut with the tamarind and garlic to a smooth mixture before beginning to make this dish. Heat the oil in a skillet, then add the curry leaves and mustard seeds, and stir until they crackle. Before the addition of garam masala and coriander, include chopped onions and fry until brown.  Add the ground coconut paste and water to make a thick gravy once it's aromatic, and then add the sliced flat beans. Serve hot with naan or rice after letting it boil until the beans are cooked thoroughly.