French Beans Recipe (Punjabi Style Aloo Beans)
Aloo Beans recipe is a spiced, flavorful, tangy and tasty Punjabi style dish made with fresh, tender, green french beans and earthy 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.
About This French Beans 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, you can also try this Beans Poriyal recipe from the South Indian cuisine, that I make often. I am sure you will like it.
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.
Sauté Green Beans
2: Add the chopped green beans. Mix well and continue to sauté for 8 to 10 minutes on low heat.
Make French Beans With Potatoes
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.
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.
5: Mix and combine well. If you prefer you can garnish aloo beans with some chopped coriander leaves.
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 about 1 day. While reheating, simply warm the veggies by sautéing in a frying pan, sprinkling some water if needed.
Expert Tips
- Cooking green 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 french 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!
Step by Step Photo Guide Above
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.
Notes
- Adjust the spiciness by adding less or more of the red chilli powder and garam masala.
- Use fresh tender green beans.
- If the beans and potatoes start sticking onto the pan or getting browned, add in a splash of water. Stir and mix to deglaze. Cover pan with lid and continue to cook the veggies.
Nutrition
This French Beans recipe from the blog archives was first published in Jun 2009. It has been updated on December 2024.
So delicious and easy! My toddler loved it too! Thank you for yet another reliable and tasty recipe, I cook Indian food almost exclusively using your website.
That’s so heartwarming to hear. I am really glad your toddler enjoyed it too. Thank you so much for your trust and kind words.
Today I made with only french beans. It is tasty.
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.
Happy to hear and thanks a lot.
Very easy and quick to make recipe. Taste also turned out yummy !!
Thank you for posting this receip will be trying it this week. I hope my boy like it 🙂
Welcome and I hope the recipe goes well for you.
Tried this recipe today…it turned out nice and toddler approved!
thanks karuna for sharing this feedback. glad to know.
Hi Dassana,
I tried this recipe and it’s fun eating it this way. Thanks
thanks divya for this feedback. thanks for the rating too. happy cooking.
Hi Dassana,
I follow your recipes for cooking and enjoy trying them all.
thanks divya. nice to know. happy cooking.
Hi Dassana,
Any substitute for dry mango powder?
hi mercy, you can add a dash of lemon juice instead of dry mango powder.
Thank you..????
I love all your recipes and try cooking them. Most of the time they go well… I love the picture explanation as it helps to atleast rate what I am about to cook.. Thank you for sharing.. Loads of love. God’s grace be with you
thank you very much meena for your kind wishes. felt nice to read your comment. i wish you all the best and may the blessings of the goddess be with you. most welcome and happy cooking.
Dassana, Really yummy and simple recipes! I love the details you add in your instructions that a novice like me also ends up seeming like a cooking pro! Thank you so much
thank you deepa. glad to read your comment and it definitely encourages me to add more recipes. welcome.
Tried this recipe for the first time. Loved it
thanks swity.
Yummy for tumm!!!! Really tasty dish
Thanks Yogita
Awesome recipe…Thanks a lot for sharing..started loving French beans.
Welcome Rachana
Thank you for such an awesome yet simple recepie… I have just started cooking… And I always refer your page for the cooking.. Thank you so much :*
Welcome Megha. Glad to know that you check the website for recipes. Feel free to ask any query on recipes posted.
Hi,
I have a doubt, when i put potatoes in the karahi, they all stick to the vessel. Due to which I am unable to make any vegetable which needs to have potato.
Couls you please help me with this.
use a karahi, which has been seasoned very well. seasoning means it has been used for frying many times. if the kadai is new, then the sticking will happen initially. later when the kadai is being used regularly, there won’t be any sticking. also thin base kadai will have this issue. also make sure that the oil is hot, when you add the potatoes.
I am on local leave and been trying out most of your recipes ( Laddi Pav , Dosa , etc.) My better half and my son enjoy it
Thank you for making it simple the pictures really help and make a big difference
thanks iggi for this feedback and sharing your experience. good to know 🙂
Beans never tasted so good before! thanks for the recipe…easy and quick n above all yummy and healthy…
thankyou kavya and you always welcome.
I dig this recipe! So easy to put together and super delicious. This is one of my favorite to go recipes when i don’t have much time in hand. Heartiest thank you 🙂
thanks santosh. agree. its so easy that i too make this sabzi often.
Being a not so confident cook , your recipes are a source of encouragement 😀 Thanks to you, i will be having a great lunch tomorow
welcome neyha 🙂 and thankyou so much surely you would have a great lunch tomorrow.
Its very simple and looks great , will def try this weekend 🙂
true aina simple recipes tastes the best surely try and would await your feedback thanks.
I must say this delicious dish exceeded my expectations. It was so good I had to use all my willpower to leave some for my son! Thanks!
welcome tony. thanks for sharing your sweet feedback. one of the best i have read till now.
Hello 🙂
Your recipes are a life- saver for me to cook for my punjabi partner 🙂 I can’t wait to try each one…
Thank you kindly and if you ever publish in a cookbook let me know so I can keep it by my side…
thanks a lot devika. we will update if and when we write a book. thanks for your generosity.
Superb…simple yet very very delicious…you made my day…Hubby was so delightfully surprised when he opened his tiffin and found this crunchy, tangy sabji..Thanks Dassana!!
welcome keyuri. glad to know this. thanks for sharing your positive experience.
My passion is cooking so i read anything on the internet which google throws about various cuisines/recepies. Once quite sometime back i found your blog…and its really good unlike few other blogs wer the originality of the receipe is lost. I hav tried several receipies of your’s. Everyone of them came out well. You rock:)) keep posting more!!
thanks gayathri for sharing this positive feedback on recipes. glad to read your comment.
It’s delicious! ! Thank you thank you thank you for this wonderful recipe! !!!!
welcome priya
i tired this recipe yesterday
and really for the first time i enjoyed eating every bite of french-beans thank you for sharing such a simple and easy yet delicious recipe 🙂
welcome maria. glad to know this.