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Simi ko tarkari
Green bean stir-fry
सिमीको तरकारी (simi ko tarkari): Nepali green beans stir-fried with tomato, cumin and timur pepper
Simi ko tarkari is cooked all summer in Nepal, when runner and French beans climb the bamboo poles of every hill farm, and it is one of the dry sides on the plate with dal, rice and achar. The beans are stir-fried in mustard oil with cumin, garlic and tomato, and finished with crushed timur, Nepal's citrusy, tingling pepper. Suitable as part of a balanced diet, it is a high-fibre vegetable side: about 110 kcal and 10 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is covering the pan for too long, which steams the beans grey; keep the heat high and the lid off for most of the cooking. Chef's tip: toast the timur briefly in a dry pan before crushing; its lemony scent doubles.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 cloves garlicchopped
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 1 ⅛ lb green beanscut into 3 cm pieces
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tomatochopped
- ½ tsp timur (Nepali Sichuan pepper)toasted and crushed
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil in a wok over a high heat until it smokes lightly, then lower to medium-high. Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and 1 dried red chilli for 15 seconds.
1 minStep 2: Add 3 cloves garlic and 1 tsp fresh ginger for 30 seconds, then the 1 ⅛ lb green beans, ½ tsp ground turmeric and ¾ tsp salt. Stir-fry for 5 minutes until the beans are bright green and blistered in places.
6 minStep 3: Add 1 tomato, cover for 3 minutes, then uncover and stir-fry for 3–4 minutes more, until the beans are tender with a little bite and the tomato has cooked down to a coating.
7 minStep 4: Stir in ½ tsp timur (Nepali Sichuan pepper), taste for salt and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does simi ko tarkari take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of cumin seeds?
- Ground cumin, three quarters of the amount (add it with the other ground spices, not to hot oil first).
- What can I use instead of dried red chilli?
- ½ tsp chilli flakes per chilli.
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