Runner Beans!!

I have never liked green beans of any kind. French beans, string beans, Runner beans none of them :-) But this summer I tried some beans and realised they were not as bad as I thought they were. So I started experimenting.. this is one of the recipes that has stuck and I really like it. It has converted me to like beans, may be you can give it a shot if you want try something nice with beans. Here is what you need, this will serve 3 or very hungry 2 :)

Shopping list:

1. French String Beans or Runner beans 400 gms - cut them into chunky pieces
2. 1 red onion - finely chopped
3. 3 large cloves of garlic
4. 1 inch of ginger
5. 2 chillies
6. 6-8 peppercorns
7. a pinch of asafoetida
8. salt to aste
9. table spoon of sunflower oil
10. large pich of turmeric
11. 5-6 curry leaves
12. shredded coconut or dessicated coconut
13. handful of cashewnuts
14. a pinch of sesame seeds.
15. a good pinch of cumin seeds and mustard seeds
16. a pinch of sugar

Lets get cooking:

1. take a pan large enough to stir fry the vegetable.
2. crush garlic, ginger, chilli and black pepper together in a grinder.
3. Put the heat on medium and add the oil.
4. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds and wait back till they sputter.
5. add the curry leaves.
6. add the asafoetida and turmeric
7. add the crushed mix of garlic, ginger, black pepper and chillies.
8. Add the onions and saute them till they are soft.
9. add the sesame seeds
10. Add salt and a pinch of sugar
11. let everything cook for a minute
12. Add the cut beans and cashewnuts
13. Let the beans cook until they are tender but not mushy, they need to retain a bite.
14. Let them cook them in their own steam or add a splash of water everytime you think they are going dry.
15. Once the beans are cooked add the coconut and cook for a further minute or 2 till you see coconut turn nice and toasty
16. There it is all done.

You can enjoy this with roti or rice on the side. I really enjoyed this hope you too. If you try or  improve anything in the recipe.. please let me know :) I will be happy to know if you enjoyed it too :)

Bon apetit!!