This refreshing vegetable dish is quick to make and has a crisp, fresh taste. It can be made with either a coconut flake or a moong dal garnish. The basic recipe can be used for several other vegetables. It goes well with plain or lightly flavored rice.
Prep time: 15 min. Cook time: 15 min. Serves 4.
Ingredients:
| 1 pound green beans, diced into 1/4 inch circles
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 2 tablespoons sweetened coconut flakes |
Seasoning:
1 tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon urad dal 1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 10 methi seeds |
Directions:
First make the seasoning: Heat oil in a skillet. When hot, add urad dal. When the urad dal turns a light brown, add mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds pop, add cumin seeds, and then the methi.
Immediately add the diced beans; sauté till they change color. Add salt, sugar and turmeric. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover tightly and cook till the beans are done.
Mix in coconut flakes, and remove from stove.
Variations:
Use frozen french-cut green beans instead of fresh beans. This reduces preparation time to 1 minute. Do not defrost beans.
Soak 2 tablespoons of moong dal in 1/2 cup water for 30–45 minutes. Add after beans are almost cooked, and simmer with the beans for 3 minutes. Omit coconut flakes.
This recipe can also be used for other vegetables, e.g., carrots, cabbage, chayote squash (good with the dal variation).
Contributed by: Meera Chandrasekhar