This Green bean curry might be really easy but it’s also so good!
My wife and I learned to make this green bean curry while in Sri Lanka at a little restaurant called Inspire.
We just happened upon the place and loved the meal we had so much that we asked for the recipes. This green bean curry was just one of a few we learned the following day.
You can see the whole video of us learning the recipe on YouTube. If you do check out the video, please be sure to subscribe to my channel as I have a lot more recipe videos on the way!
My research trip to Sri Lanka…
If you haven’t tried Sri Lankan food before, it is time you did. If you have, then you know what I’m talking about.
Most of the recipes, like this green bean curry are really simple to make. There are few ingredients but the ingredients used work so well together.
I spent a month recently in Sri Lanka and came back with over 30 new recipes that I can’t wait to share with you. You can find links to some of them below just above the recipe.
Most of these recipes are one pot dishes so they are perfect any time and without any fuss.
Make this green bean curry recipe your own…
I have typed the recipe exactly as my wife and I learned it.
Recipes are really just suggestions though so feel free to adjust as you like. You can add more or less chilli powder for example.
Step by step photos…

Add about 3 good tablespoons of coconut milk and continue cooking until the beans are cooked through.

Check for seasoning and serve hot. This green bean curry makes a great side dish but can also be served as a main with rice.
If you like this Sri Lankan green bean curry recipe, you might like to try some of the Indian Vegetarian favourites.
Dum Aloo
Pakistani Chickpea Biryani
Punjabi Saag Curry
Punjabi Rajma
Butternut Squash Curry
Sri Lankan Green Beans Curry
Aloo Gobi
Saag Paneer
Onion Pakora Curry
Chana Saag Curry
Potato Curry
Saag Paneer
Mushroom Curry
Masala Corn
Gobi Manchurian
Bombay Potatoes
Masala Dosa
Saag Aloo
Tandoori Hummus
Tarka Dal
Masoor Dal
Dal Makhani
Chana Dal
Homemade Poppadoms From Scratch
Cabbage Thoran
Chai Tea (masala chai)
Have you tried this green bean curry recipe?
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Sri Lankan Green Bean Curry

Ingredients
- 225g (1/2 lb) green beans, slices at an angle into 5cm (2 inch) pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp black mustard seeds
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 5cm (2 inch) piece of leek, thinly sliced
- 15 curry leaves, fresh or frozen, roughly chopped
- 1 x 2.5cm x 2.5cm (1 inch x 1 inch) pandan leaf, cut into thin strips
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp light coconut milk
Instructions
- Put the sliced green beans into a bowl and mix in the turmeric and salt with your hands. Set aside.
- Heat the coconut oil in a clay pot or sauce pan over medium high heat. When visibly hot, stir in the mustard seeds. When they begin to crackle in the hot oil, stir in the chopped garlic.
- Fry the garlic for about 30 seconds and then add the curry leaves, , pandan leaves, onion and leeks and chilli powder. Continue cooking until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Stir in the green beans and coat them with the oil and other ingredients. Stir fry for about 3 minutes and then add the coconut milk.
- Continue cooking until the beans are cooked through to your liking and add more salt to taste to serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 154Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 824mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 4g
Kez
Friday 4th of October 2024
What a great curry dish, thanks for sharing, it's really inspired me to try more sri Lankan dishes, it was so tasty and simple. I replaced the pandan with coriander, is there a better substitute?
Dan Toombs
Monday 14th of October 2024
There isn’t really a replacement for pandan leaves so just omit it if you can’t get hold of any. Nothing wrong with adding coriander though. Thanks very much. Dan
K
Thursday 29th of August 2024
Delicious and easy,impressed my Sri Lankan friends ( found pandan leaves)
Dan Toombs
Wednesday 4th of September 2024
Thank you and well done for finding the pandan leaves. Dan
R
Wednesday 19th of June 2024
I made this, just without the pandan leaf as I could not find it anywhere. It's really flavoursome, enough that we just ate it with rice as a main dish. Thanks for the recipe!
Dan Toombs
Tuesday 25th of June 2024
I agree, pandan leaves are quite hard to find. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much even without the pandan leaves. Thank you Dan