I’m not sure what it is about Broad Bean/ Chikkudukaya that reminds me of my early years. Although they aren’t the most unique vegetables, they are a comfort meal in my family. When I was growing up, Broad Bean curry/Chikkudukaya kura was a common dish on our table; it was flavorful, quietly nourishing, and always prepared with love. This curry was my mother’s method of providing us with a filling meal without fuss because she believed in making simple, healthful meals.
We used to sit on the balcony and assist Mom in peeling the pods while talking about our days in the evening times, I recall. The act of preparing the beans was almost meditative; each pod was slightly different, and some were simpler to open than others, yet all of them promised the same tasty dinner. These are the small moments that stay with you. Who would have imagined broad beans/ chikkudukaya could be so warm?
Broad beans/ chikkudukaya kura are often overlooked in many regions of India in favor of more spectacular dishes, but they’ve always held a special place in my heart. Their delicate sweetness and soft bite, along with the light spices we use, transform ordinary vegetables into a comfortable bowl of deliciousness. Broad bean curry/ chikkudukaya kura is about more than just food; it’s about slowing down, appreciating the small things, and recognizing that the most simple ingredients can make the tastiest meals.
Today I’m sharing my family’s recipe for Broad Bean curry/ Chikkudukaya kura—it’s simple, tasty, and ideal for a weeknight meal. It’s easy to prepare, light on the stomach, and full of vegetables and spices. This recipe will satisfy your hunger and your heart, whether you’re preparing it for your family or simply for yourself.
How to Make Broad Bean Curry/ Chikkudukaya Kura
Peel the Broad Bean pods/ chikkudukaya kura, wash and cut them into smaller pieces, and wash onions, tomatoes, green chili, curry leaves, and coriander leaves. Chop them separately and keep them ready for making the recipe.
- Turn on the stove with a lighter, and keep the pan on the stove. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin and mustard seeds, let them splutter.
- Add green chili, and curry leaves to the pan, and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add chopped onions to the pan and fry until golden for 4 minutes. Keep the flame on medium.
- Add turmeric powder and ginger-garlic paste to the pan and saute for 30 seconds.
- Now add broad beans to the pan and add half a teaspoon of salt. Stir and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes to the pan and cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes become mushy.
- Add red chili powder to the pan and saute for a minute.
- Now add a little water to the pan, add salt as per taste, stir it, cover it with a lid, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Now add chopped coriander leaves to the broad bean curry and turn off the stove.
- Finally, Broad Bean Curry/ Chikkudukaya Kura is ready to serve.
The Beauty of Broad Bean Curry/ Chikkudukaya Kura
Broad Bean Curry/chikkudukaya kura is one of those dishes that reminds me of life’s little joys. It’s not complex or complicated but it’s comforting in the best way. I love how food like this carries memories – the aroma of the spices, the feel of the beans in my hands, and the warmth of a meal shared with family.
Sometimes it’s the most basic ingredients that have the biggest impact. For me, broad beans/ chikkudukaya kura will always remind me of leisurely evenings in the kitchen with my mother, whipping up something simple but lovingly prepared. I hope this meal brings to your table.
You may like: Ridge Gourd Curry/Beerakaya Kura
Notes
- Peel the broad beans/ chikkudukaya and cut them into smaller pieces the day before only, so that it will be easier for you to make a broad bean curry/ chikkudukaya kura recipe if you are a working woman or busy with kids.
- Maintain a distance from the pan when seeds are popping.
- If you don’t have the ginger-garlic paste, you can add chopped garlic too.
- I used a deep-bottomed aluminum vessel in making the broad bean curry/ chikkudukaya kura recipe if you don’t have one, use the pan.
Benefits of Broad Bean Curry/ Chikkudukaya Kura
- Onions: Cutting onions may bring tears to our eyes due to their sulfur compounds. It cleans our eyes. It also has antioxidants that prevent cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and others.
- Tomatoes: Eating tomatoes can aid with blood circulation and digestion, lower blood cholesterol, detoxify the body, avoid premature aging, enhance fluid balance, and lower inflammation. Additionally, this vegetable helps to improve stomach health and eyesight while preventing diabetes, skin issues, and urinary tract infections. It lowers blood sugar levels.
- Green Chilli: Vital vitamins and minerals found in green chilies help people lose weight, see better, take better care of the skin, feel better, and stay healthy. Green chilies’ capsaicin increases metabolism, and vitamin A helps with vision.
- Curry leaves: Curry leaves have been shown to lower cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. Strengthens Hair Health: Curry leaves are well-known for their ability to increase hair growth and decrease hair loss. They have nutrients that help to nourish the scalp, stop premature graying, and build hair follicles.
- Coriander leaves: Coriander leaves have high levels of vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting. Vitamin K also aids bone healing, which helps to prevent conditions such as osteoporosis.
- Ginger-garlic paste: Combining ginger and garlic reduces the cold, helps in weight loss, aids in digestion, and reduces infections caused by bacteria and fungi, is analgesic, controls blood sugar levels, and natural blood thinner.
- Cumin seeds: They improve digestion, boost immunity, contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, aid in weight loss, and regulate blood sugar levels.
- Mustard Seeds: They can help prevent headaches, enhance digestion, promote heart health, fortify bones and teeth, make skin and hair healthier, postpone aging, defend against free radicals, regulate blood sugar, and more.
- Broad beans: Broad beans/ chikkudukaya have a diverse nutritional profile that provides several health benefits. They are high in fiber, folate, and important minerals, which benefit heart health, blood sugar balance, weight management, and immune function.
Broad Bean Curry/Chikkudukaya Kura/avarakkai poriyal/sem ki sabji
Ingredients
- 500 gm broad beans
- 2 onions small-sized or 1 medium, chopped
- 2 tomatoes red, ripened, medium, chopped
- 2 green chili slit
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ¼ tsp cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp ginger-garlic paste
- coriander leaves freshly chopped
- 1 tbsp Oil cooking oil
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- salt as needed
Instructions
- Peel the pods cut them into smaller sizes, and wash them.
- Wash onions, tomatoes, green chili, curry leaves, and coriander leaves separately. Chop onions, and tomatoes, slit green chili, and remove curry leaves from the sprig.
- Heat oil in a pan, add cumin and mustard seeds, let them pop. Keep the flame on the sim.
- Add green chili and curry leaves to the pan and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add chopped onions to the pan and fry until golden. Keep the flame on medium.
- Add turmeric powder and ginger-garlic paste to the pan and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add broad beans with half a teaspoon of salt to it. Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes to the pan, and stir it. Cook for 5 minutes till tomatoes become mushy.
- Add red chili powder to the pan and saute for a minute.
- Add a little water and salt as needed, and stir it. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add chopped coriander leaves to the broad bean curry. Turn off the stove.
- Finally, Broad bean curry is ready to serve.
