Cluster beans ( Kothavarangai)/ gawar ki phali paruppu usali vege

Cluster beans is not advised for kidney patients. whose urea levels are high. So those with kidney problems may avoid it.

As cluster beans/ kothavarangai has a slightly bitter taste, best is to boil it with salt & turmeric powder, once cooked,s train it, squeeze out the water & keep. unlike beans as by itself, it doesn't taste that good, so, one way is to make it with dals. i.e, soak about one small cup of chana dal & equal quantity of arhar dal. grind it with 3-4 red chilies, 2" ginger , 6-8 garlic, optional, with salt to taste. The mixture need not be thick, as it can be cooked in microwave in 5 minutes, so unlike vada batter, it can be slightly thinner than that. grease a microwave dish with oil, put the batter, cook for 2 minutes, stir well, cook for another min. & so on till done. This can be steamed in idli plates, then the batter should be slightly thick. Heat 1 1/2 tbsp of oil in a thick kadai, add 1 tsp mustard seeds, once it crackles, add 1/2 tsp hing pdr., add the cooked dal mixture, making sure they're not in lumps, by breaking it well. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the cooked cluster beans, check for salt.

ps- the amount of dal for 1/4 kg of ckuster beans can vary as per one's taste, as some like to have more dal in this vege. This vege goes well with onion vathak kulambu, or South Indian Mor kulambu, i.e., South Indian kadi.