Beans Paruppu Usili Instant Pot

I have been experimenting with OPOS and instant pot trying several dishes. OPOS has definitely shortened the time it takes to cook and everyday I am fascinated by the things I learn from OPOS. Beans paruppu Usili or beans lentil crumble is a delicacy of a South Indian feast and many people are intimidated in making this. But with the method I am sharing with you, one does not have to be scared of making paruppu usili. This dish is usually made with green beans, cluster beans, banana flowers and it is perfect combination for more kuzhambu.

Get Ready

• Green beans, washed, trimmed and finely chopped 2 cups
• 1/3 cup of channa dal
• 1/3 cup of toor dal
• 2  dried red chili
• 1/4 tsp as afoetida
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
•  few curry leaves

Soak the chana dal, toor dal with dried red chili in water for about 30 mins. drain the water and grind it coarsely with some salt and asafoetida. set aside.

Instant Pot method:

• Turn the IP on. 
• In the inner pot, add one tablespoon of water, the beans, 1/2 tsp salt.

• Keep the trivet in the middle.
• Transfer the ground dal paste to another vessel and keep it on top of the trivet

• Close the IP. press Manual/ pressure cook and set time for 0 mins with vent in sealing position
• Once the timer beeps, do a Quick Pressure release and  and open the pot.

video link to paruppu usili

Pressure cooker/ OPOS method

•  In a 2 litre pressure cooker, add a tbsp of water, chopped beans and spread the ground dal mixture on top of the beans. Cover the cooker, place the weight and turn the heat on.
• Cook for 2 whistles with the flame covering the base of the cooker.
• Release pressure manually and marvel at the green color of the beans.

The next step is common for both methods.

• In a pan, add the oil and do the tadka/ tempering with mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
• Crumble the cooked dal mixture and add it to the pan.
• Use the back of your spoon and crumble the mixture and roast  in oil for 1-2 mins
• Add the cooked beans without any water and toss them well with the dal mixture.
• Add salt per taste.
• cook on low fire till the dal mixture is crispy. it make take about 7-10 mins
• Serve with rice, mor kozhambu, samabr or rasam

Let me know if you tried it and liked it.

Kadai Paneer Instant Pot

This is a very yummy and easy dish to put together in no time. I have adopted the technique of cooking everything in one pot under pressure as OPOS and applied to the IP.
You can check my other paneer, non IP posts HERE

This dish is inspired by OPOS kadai paneer. Recipe source:From Here

• 1 green bell pepper, deseeded & cut in chunks
• 1 red bell pepper same as above
• 1 carrot peeled & sliced
• 2 roma tomatoes deseeded & cut in chunks
• 1 small red onion cut 
• 1 -2 green chilli slit lengthwise
• 1/2 block of store bought paneer cut into small cubes
• 1-1.5 tsp salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
• Cilantro

Spice mix

• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 1 tbsp kasoori methi crushed in ur palm
• 1 /2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste/ powder
• 1 -2 tsp red chili powder ( depending on taste)

Go

• In a bowl add the spice mix, paneer. Toss them well till the spice mix coats all the paneer. Set aside the paneer. Keep the excess spice mix.

• Turn IP to saute. Add oil, once hot add the onions & saute

•  add the green chili, tomato & saute for few mins

•  add the bell peppers, carrot, salt, remaining spice mix powder and toss them well.

• Add paneer as a top layer. Do not mix
•  cancel saute
•  close IP with the vent on sealing position
•  Pressure cook or manual for 0 mins.

•  Do a QR and be amazed the beauty of peppers & paneer.

•  Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!