Beans Recipe (Aloo Beans)

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Aloo Beans Recipe is a spiced, flavorful, tangy and tasty Punjabi style dish made with french beans and potatoes. Super easy to make and quick, this beans recipe is made with minimum ingredients and yet tastes very good. The recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

aloo beans recipe served in a steel bowl on a cream colored cotton woven napkin.

About This Recipe

Generally, either people like french beans or they don’t. Growing up, I was never fond of them. Later after many years, when I learned this homestyle, authentic Punjabi aloo beans sabzi from my mother-in-law, I started relishing french beans.

This is a simple beans recipe that does not call for much time or many ingredients. Together with the french beans and potatoes, you only need fewer ground spices that are easily available in an Indian pantry.

For some tanginess in the dish, we add dry mango powder. Dry mango powder is also called ‘amchur’ in Hindi. If you do not have dry mango powder, simply drizzle some lemon juice once the aloo beans dish is complete and done.

Also this is a dry vegetable sautéed dish that does not include water or other liquids. I make this beans recipe often when I want something easy and healthy to make.

If you like french beans, do check the below listed two unique Indian french beans recipes that I make often. I am sure you will like them.

  1. Beans Foogath
  2. Beans Poriyal
Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Aloo Beans Recipe

Sauté Potatoes

1: Start by rinsing, draining all the water and then cutting 250 grams french beans and 3 to 4 medium-sized potatoes. Cut the french beans to 1 inch pieces. Peel the potatoes and then chop them as you prefer – either in wedges or 1.25 to 1.5 inches cubes.

In a thick bottomed heavy kadai (wok) or frying-pan add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil becomes hot, add the chopped potatoes. Mix the potatoes with the oil.

Reduce the heat to low or medium-low and sauté the potatoes for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep on stirring while sautéing for even cooking.

NOTE: A well seasoned and heavy pan ensures that your potatoes do not stick while getting sautéed.

potatoes being sautéed

Sauté Beans

2: Add the chopped green beans. Mix well and continue to sauté for 8 to 10 minutes on low heat.

french beans added to potatoes

Add Ground Spices

3: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder and salt as required. Mix thoroughly.

Let the vegetables gently get sautéed in the oil on a low heat for a further 8 to 10 minutes. Stir at intervals for even cooking.

If you want the vegetables to cook quickly then you can cover the kadai or wok with a lid. But, remember to check it after a few minutes or so.

If you cover the veggies they will loose their crispiness. But this method works when you are in a hurry or short of time.

I don’t cover the kadai when cooking this recipe. I simply cook the veggies on a low heat, stirring as needed. This does takes some time but worth it.

ground spices added on sautéed french beans and potatoes

Final Touches

4: When the vegetables are tender and cooked well, add ½ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder) or as needed.

dry mango powder and garam masala powder sprinkled on aloo beans

5: Mix and combine well. If you prefer you can garnish aloo beans with some chopped coriander leaves.

aloo beans recipe dish served in a steel bowl on a cream colored cotton woven napkin

Serving Suggestions

Serve aloo beans sabzi warm or hot with roti, paratha and curd (yogurt). If choosing to have this aloo beans recipe with a side of yogurt, then sweeten the yogurt with some sugar.

You can also choose to serve this beans recipe as a side vegetable dish with any Indian main course. It also pairs well as a side dish with dal-fry and steamed rice.

Storage

Refrigerate any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. While reheating, simply warm the veggies by sautéing in a frying pan, sprinkling some water if needed.

Tips

Helpful Tips

  • Cooking beans, option 1: For the beans and potatoes to cook faster, it is better if you cover your pan or kadai with a lid or plate. To ensure that the veggies don’t get burnt, add some water on the lid of the pan. This is applicable only if you are using an external plate with a side rim that can hold water.
  • Cooking beans, option 2: If you are using a pan which has its own lid, then just cover it and let the french beans and potatoes cook on a low heat. If the veggies start to stick to the pan, add some splashes of water. Mix and continue to cook. Generally, when we make this beans aloo recipe, we just let the veggies cook in the kadai on a low heat without covering with any lid. However, If you choose to cover with the lid then the veggies will cook fast but will lose their crispiness.
  • Add-ins: If you add 2 to 3 teaspoon of pav bhaji masala to this aloo beans recipe, it tastes awesome. This aloo beans recipe can also be made with capsicum (green bell pepper) instead of French Beans. Get that recipe here – Aloo Capsicum Recipe.
  • More tanginess: If you want the aloo beans sabzi to be more tangy and sour, then add a total of 1½ to 2 teaspoons of amchur powder. If you do not have dry mango powder, then squeeze about ½ to 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice once the dish has completed cooking. 
  • Fats: Instead of vegetable oil, you could use ghee and even olive oil to make this recipe.

Few more tasty recipes for you!

  1. Aloo Gobi
  2. Potato Fry
  3. Aloo Methi
  4. Aloo Baingan

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

french bean recipe served in a steel bowl.

Beans Recipe (Aloo Beans)

Aloo Beans Recipe is a spiced, flavorful, tangy and tasty Punjabi style dish made with french beans and potatoes. Super easy to make and quick, this beans recipe is made with minimum ingredients and yet tastes very good.
4.93 from 38 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Cuisine Indian, Punjabi
Course Side Dish
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

  • 250 grams french beans
  • 3 or 4 potatoes (aloo), medium-sized
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder or cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 teaspoon amchur powder (dry mango powder) or add according to taste
  • 3 tablespoons oil (any neutral tasting oil), can use ghee instead
  • salt as required

Instructions
 

  • Begin by rinsing, draining all the water and then chopping the french beans and potatoes. Chop the french beans into 1 inch pieces. Peel the potatoes and chop them as you prefer, either in wedges or 1.25 to 1.5 inches cubes.
  • In a thick bottomed kadai or pan add the oil. When the oil becomes hot, add the potatoes and sauté them for 3 to 4 minutes stirring often on low heat.
  • Then add the chopped french beans and sauté both the veggies for 8 to 10 minutes on a low heat. Check and stir after every few minutes when the veggies are cooking.
  • Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt as required. Mix well.
  • Continue to sauté for further for 8 to 10 minutes on low heat or until the veggies are tender and cooked well. Stir at intervals for even cooking.
  • Add the dry mango powder and garam masala powder. Mix well.

Serving suggestions

  • Serve Aloo beans sabzi warm or hot with roti, paratha and curd (yogurt). If choosing to have with a side of yogurt, then sweeten the yogurt with some sugar.
  • If you like you can garnish with some chopped coriander leaves while serving
  • You can also choose to serve this beans recipe as a side vegetable dish with any Indian main course.
  • It also pairs well as a side dish with dal-fry and steamed rice.

Storage

  • Refrigerate any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. While reheating, simply warm the veggies by sautéing in a frying pan or skillet, sprinkling some water if needed.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Beans Recipe (Aloo Beans)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 406 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 321mg14%
Potassium 1712mg49%
Carbohydrates 71g24%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 513IU10%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 4mg20%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 81mg98%
Vitamin E 5mg33%
Vitamin K 17µg16%
Calcium 69mg7%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 80µg20%
Iron 4mg22%
Magnesium 102mg26%
Phosphorus 238mg24%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This aloo beans recipe from the blog archives (Jun 2009) has been republished and updated on 11 March 2021.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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50 Comments

  1. Love your blog, have tried quite a few of your recipes and they have always turned out amazing! Thank you, this is definitely one of my go-to recipe blogs.5 stars

  2. Thank you for posting this receip will be trying it this week. I hope my boy like it 🙂

  3. Hi Dassana,
    I tried this recipe and it’s fun eating it this way. Thanks5 stars

    1. thanks divya for this feedback. thanks for the rating too. happy cooking.

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