Green bean curry makes a tasty and easy side dish
One thing I can say about traditional Indian cooking is that they sure know how to make their vegetables taste great! This green bean curry also happens to be one of the easiest recipes I know. There is no spice grinding to do! You can simply purchase the ingredients and other than a bit of chopping and grating your set to go.
This is a nice green bean curry recipe from southern Indian. It incorporates all the lovely flavours that the area is known for such as coconut, chillies, mustard seeds and curry leaves. All of these lovely ingredients work together to create an amazing green bean curry that can be served as a side dish but can also easily stand on its own as a main course.
All of the flavours are fresh and inviting and aroma in my kitchen last night was good enough to make the whole family very hungry.
How to Make an Authentic Indian Vegetarian Green Bean Curry

Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter
- 1 red onion - cut into thin slices
- 6 green chillies - halved
- 1 inch piece of ginger - finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - smashed and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 12 fresh curry leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 3 chopped tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons freshly grated coconut
- 400g fresh green beans trimmed and cut
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the ghee in a large saucepan or wok over medium heat.
- Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- When the mustard seeds begin to pop, add the onion and fry until it is translucent and lightly browned - about three minutes
- Now add the green chillies, ginger, garlic, turmeric and chilli powder. Cook stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the green beans, tomatoes and about a quarter cup of water. Cover and allow to simmer until the green beans are cooked through and tender to the bite.
- Throw in your grated coconut. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy with an Indian style rice dish or plain white rice.
If you like the look of this green bean curry, please share it using the share icons below. Thanks!
Vijay
Thursday 22nd of September 2016
A very simple way of cooking green beans curry. Chop in to small pieces, add two tsp oil , mustard, asafaetida, curry leaves, add chopped beans and fry for a minute add turmeric powder . Add salt, coconut, and chopped coriander. Add half a tsp of sugar or jaggery and cook in a pressure cooker. Simple way to cook a green bean curry
Joanne
Saturday 28th of February 2015
Thank you Curry Guy, this recipe is very yummy and soooooo easy to make. Love it, I am vegetarian and really enjoy different dishes especially ones with an Indian or Middle Eastern influence.
Dan Toombs
Thursday 5th of March 2015
Thank you Joanne.
Dan
priya
Sunday 30th of June 2013
Thank you for a nice tasty veg.
Dan Toombs
Wednesday 3rd of July 2013
Thank you for giving my recipe a try.
Dan
David Percival
Saturday 14th of July 2012
Shared this recipe on twitter @helixoo
Dan Toombs
Wednesday 12th of September 2012
Thanks very much for that David and sorry for the late reply.
Dan
jo
Wednesday 30th of November 2011
thanks so much for very informative website. i don't have turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder. what i have is curry powder that has corriander, turmeric,ginger,cinnamon,black pepper,cumin,fenugreekand cordomon. am wondering if instead of 1 tbsp cumin powder & 1 tbsp coriander powder, i can use 2 tbsp of curry powder in ur monkfish curry recipe? and for the marinade, i will use 1 tbsp of curry powder instead of 1 tbsp turmeric? thanks!!
Dan Toombs
Sunday 4th of December 2011
Hi Jo
If you have a really good quality curry powder that will be fine. It is always best to roast and grind your own spices when possible. I hope you like the recipe.