Cous Cous Pilaf with French Beans and Garlic and Lime

it took one pan and was on the table in 15 minutes

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • Print

This was a very quick to table dish that was quite delicious. I had some left over cous cous and needed to make a quick meal. I planned to make a lime flavored dish but as I took out some vegetables and herb the dish took on a like of its own and turned into something quite complex and satisfying. Best of all, it took one pan and was on the table in 15 minutes. That’s really the simple in The Simple Vegetarian Cookbook.

Cous Cous Pilaf with French Beans and Garlic and Lime

Sauté some mustard seeds and urad and a few spices in a large pan. Add a few cut vegetables and chilies and cover and allow the vegetable to cook. Mix in the cous cous and toss together. Serve with a wedge of fresh lime and a yogurt patchadi or plain yogurt.

Ingredients

  • Cooked cous cous – 2 cups
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Urad Dal – 1 tsp
  • Canola oil – 2 tbs
  • Dried Chili flakes – 1/2 tsp
  • Fresh green chillies – 3
  • Curry leaves – 6
  • Chopped italian Parsley – 1 cup
  • Minced garlic (optional) – 2 cloves
  • Potato cubes – 1 cup
  • Cucumber cubes – 1/2 cup
  • Cut French beans – 1 cup
  • Fresh lime juice – 2 tbs
  • Salt – to taste
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Asafoetida – 1/4 tsp
  • Sambar powder – 1/4 tsp

Directions

Heat oil in a large sauté pan and fry the mustard seeds and grad. Add the dried chilies, turmeric powder, sambar powder and asafoetida. Add the green chilies and the potatoes cut into 1 cm cubes (1/4 inch) and sauté for a couple of minutes add the french beans cut into inch long pieces. Toss and add the cucumber. Cover and cook for a few minutes over low heat. Add a bit of water or a chopped tomato and salt as needed to cook the vegetables till they are firm and done. Add minced curry leaves and Italian parsley and add the cous cous (quinoa or lapsi will work too). Drizzle with fresh lime juice .

Serve with a side of plain yogurt or yogurt patchadi and a wedge of fresh lime.

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