These simple Trinidadian Green Beans are so easy to make and so full of flavor. They are perfectly spiced with a homemade amchar masala blend and are ready in minutes!
Table of Contents
Versions of stir-fried and braised green beans can be found across the Caribbean, like these simple Trinidadian green beans spiced with an aromatic amchar masala blend.
This is an incredibly simple recipe, and it turns green beans, a plain-Jane veggie, into a gorgeous, mouthwatering side dish you'd be proud to serve family and/or friends. The beans are juicy and tender with the slightest bite, and each mouthful explodes with the flavor of the amchar spices.
In Trinidad, this dish would be made with long beans (bodi), but I use regular green beans, which are more easily sourced here.
Because the spices in this recipe are Indian-inspired, I often serve these Trinidadian green beans with a simple, homemade dal. You can also serve them with a flatbread, like roti or this Trinidadian inspired roti stuffed with chickpeas.
Looking for more green bean recipes? Be sure to try out these garlicky green beans, south Indian green beans called paruppu usili, this simple green beans sabzi to eat with dal and rice, or this classic Thanksgiving vegan green bean casserole.
Recipe card
Trinidadian Green Beans Recipe (Bodi)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any neutral oil (or any other vegetable oil)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 jalapeno pepper (or any moderately spiced green chili pepper, finely chopped)
- 1 large red onion (finely chopped)
- 2 teaspoon amchar masala
- ½ teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- 1 pound green beans (Use fresh or frozen beans. Cut into 1-inch pieces)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ cup vegetable stock (or water)
- 1 heaping tsp curry powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, garlic and green chili peppers and saute for 30 seconds. Stir in the onions and add a hefty pinch of salt. Saute the onions until they start to brown.
- Add the amchar masala and the turmeric, if using. Mix well for a few seconds until the spices coat the onions.
- Stir in the green beans and lemon juice, then pour in ½ cup of vegetable broth or water. Mix well, cover and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the green beans have absorbed most of the water and are tender.
- Stir in the curry powder and mix well. Add salt as needed. Serve the green beans hot, warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store the Trinidadian green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
- Freeze: Freeze the beans for up to three months in a freezer-safe container.
- Reheat: Thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutrition Information
To print recipe card without images, uncheck "instruction images" after clicking the "print recipe" button.
How to make Trinidadian Green Beans
Heat oil over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, garlic and green chili peppers and saute for 30 seconds.
Stir in the onions and add a hefty pinch of salt. Saute the onions until they start to brown.
Add the amchar masala and the turmeric, if using. Mix well for a few seconds until the spices coat the onions.
Stir in the green beans and lemon juice, then pour in ½ cup of vegetable broth or water. Mix well, cover and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the green beans have absorbed most of the water and are tender.
Stir in the curry powder and mix well. Add salt as needed.
Serve the green beans hot, warm or at room temperature.
Top tips
- Squeezing in a bit of lemon juice when you add the green beans helps preserve some of that lovely green as the beans cook, and also adds a lovely, fresh flavor.
- You can cook the green beans to the tenderness you desire, but leaving them just slightly al dente makes them taste juicier and even more delicious.
sunlove justiceova says
Excellent cooking!
Gina says
You are speaking my language with the ingredients in this recipe: I love and use all of these, and have all of the ingredients to make the requisite amchar masala. Just plain, steamed green beans, in a little olive oil and minced garlic, are a fav, but I love to dress them up and enhance their flavor in different ways when possible. This sounds like a most delicious new way to prepare them. Thank you!
Vaishali says
Hope you try the green beans, Gina! I'm definitely a fan. 🙂