Green Beans Palya

“Palya is a classic South Indian recipe usually composed of a single vegetable chopped into bite-size pieces and sautéed in oil that has been seasoned with black mustard seeds, asafetida, chile, and curry leaves” says recipe developer and cookbook author Chitra Agrawal. “The dish is then finished with lemon juice, grated coconut, and cilantro. Depending on which state in South India you are in, this same preparation is referred to by different names, such as thoran or poriyal. While seasonal produce is preferred, the combination makes even the saddest of vegetables at the back of your fridge sing. Green beans are my favorite choice, but the recipe is extremely flexible and can be applied to beets, cabbage, potatoes, and, as I recently discovered, asparagus.” Read more about palya here. To make it a full meal, serve with chitranna or plain rice, raita  or yogurt, and achar. Green beans palya also pairs well with roti.