Mezhukku Puratty (മെഴുക്കു പുരട്ടി) is an authentic vegetable side dish in Kerala. Mezhukku in Malayalam means oil, and for the traditional preparation, the vegetable is cooked only using oil. I have this preparation here using  long beans (achinga ) as the vegetable, in which most of the cooking done in water to make this dish healthier, without much of a trade off in its its taste and style.

Ingredients

For cooking:-

1. Long Beans (Achinga) : ½ kg
2. Turmeric :  A pinch
3. Salt for taste
4. Water : About 3/4 Cup

For sauté

5. Shallots (chrushed) : 5
6. Crushed red chilli : 2 T-sp (adjust)
7. Turmeric powder : a pinch
8. Coconut : 1 Cup
9. Salt for taste

For seasoning:-

10. Oil : 1 Tbl- sp (adjust)
11. Mustard seeds : ½ T-sp
12. Whole red chilly : 2
13. Curry leaves  : 2 sprigs

Method

• Cut the long-beans into ~ 1” pieces ( see the pic)
• Crush the shallots in a mortar.
• In a kadai/ pan, add the ingredients mentioned for cooking, close the lid and cook it . In-between open the lid and stir it (don’t overcook it, little crunchy will get the dish tastier).
• Dry any excess water on it.
• Transfer the cooked long beans in a bowl and clean the Kadai for further use.
• Keep the kadai on the stove and fry the seasoning ingredients one by one.
• Then add the crushed shallots and fry it for about 2-3 minutes or until it is translucent.
• Then add the crushed chilli along with turmeric powder and fry it for about a minute.
• Now add the coconut and fry it for 1 minute followed by the cooked long beans and mix everything together.
• At this point, check the salt (we already added salt while cooking the long beans).
• Close the lid and cook it for another 1 minute in a low flame.

Tips:-

• Use coconut oil for the traditional taste.
• Traditional mezhukkupuratty preparation uses more oil instead of water , use oil for authentic mezhukkupuratty preparation.