Val Papdichi Bhaji | French Beans Sabzi

French Beans Sabzi | Val Papdichi Bhaji with step by step photos and instructions.

French beans are also called as green beans, string beans or snap beans. They are known as val papdi in Konkani. They are one of the most nutritional vegetables you can eat. Val papdichi bhaji is a simple, no-onion no-garlic recipe which can be prepared easily. You can prepare french beans sabzi in an open pan or a pressure cooker. I prefer to cook this in a pressure cooker as the bhaji turns out to be very mushy.

Goan vegetables or ‘bhajis‘ are usually prepared using no spices unlike other cuisines. Bhajis/vegetables are tempered with mustard, curry leaves, cooked with steam and finished off with freshly grated coconut and a little jaggery. Of course there are variations like adding onion, garlic etc. but the usual method adopted to prepare during festivals, or as a part of prasada/naivedhyam thali, is the same.

How to clean french beans?/How to de-string french beans?

French beans have strings to its sides. Some varieties have no strings at all. You have to remove the strings before chopping them. The beans are easier to string if they are mature. It is a bit difficult if they are tender.

Traditionally this vegetable is broken by hands. To remove the strings, hold the bean with one hand and with the other hand ‘snap‘ an upper small part of the bean. Gently pull the snapped part and the string will come along with it. Repeat the process with the other end of the bean in a similar fashion. That’s the very reason french beans are called ‘snap beans’ because when they are raw and you break them apart, they make a snap sound. Another tip…when you reach the other end of the bean instead of pulling the string right through, snap the bean again and pull it off. The bottom line is that french beans shouldn’t be stringy.

Throw the strings away and snap the beans into three or four pieces. You can chop them with a knife, though. I will be soon sharing more of bhaji/sabzi recipes.

Benefits of eating french beans

This humble vegetable is generally ignored for its health benefits. They are mostly used in pulaos, fried rice etc. but seldom eaten as a vegetable in itself. Do you know french beans are are a fantastic source of vital nutrients? Read on to discover a few of the wonderful benefits of including french beans in your diet…

1. French beans are a good source of vitamins A and C, which boosts your immunity.
2. They also include a number of minerals, including iron, calcium and magnesium.
3. Rich in folic acid and iron, french beans contain about twice the amount of iron as compared to spinach. If you are anaemic, have low energy throughout the day or low metabolism – then french beans is the miraculous food you need. 
4. Low in calories and contain no saturated fat. Therefore, weight watchers should include them in their diet.
5. Ideal for good gut health as they’re rich in dietary fibre. Keeps you fuller for longer. The dietary fibre reduces high cholesterol.
6. French beans a also a great source of protein as the seeds within the green bean pods are pulses.

These are just a few of the amazing benefits of french beans. Most of us will not even know about this…So having said all that let’s now dive straight into the recipe.

How to prepare Val Papdichi Bhaji?

1. Wash the french beans thoroughly with water. Remove the strings. You can either chop them or break them by hand into 3-4 pieces.

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2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker or pan. Add mustard and allow it to splutter.

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3. Add curry leaves, green chilli and saute. Then add chopped beans.

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4. Stir fry on medium flame till the colour of the french beans changes. Stir frying gives it a deep green colour. (You can look closely at the images below.)

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5. Add water and salt.

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6. Close the lid and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles.

7. Open the pressure cooker. Switch on the gas again. Add grated coconut and mix well.

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8. Add jaggery and on high flame combine everything well till the remaining water in it evaporates completely.

9. Switch off the gas and serve with rice, dal or any curry of your choice.