Stir-Fried South Indian Green beans

Serves 16

Ingredients

• salt
• 3 lbs green beans cut into 1-inch pieces
• .5 tsp asafetita
• 4 tsp whole mustard seeds
• 2 tsp urad dal
• 8 dried, hot, red chilies
• 32 to 40 curry leaves
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 to 2 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions

Prep

1. Bring enough water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tbsp salt and beans.
2. Boil for 5 minutes or until the beans are cooked just through.
3. Drain and rinse in cold water.

Just before serving

1. Pour oil into pan and set over medium-high heat.
2. When hot add asafetida, mustard seeds, urad dal, and chilies.
3. As soon as the mustard seeds pop and the dal turns reddish, add curry leaves and then the beans.
4. Turn off heat. Toss to mix.
5. Add lemon juice, cayenne, and 2 to 3 tsp salt.
6. Warm on low heat if beans are not heated through.

If you don't have asafetida, use 1 tbsp of the paste from lime pickle and reduce salt and chilies accordingly.

-- PeteJohnson^? - 05 Jan 2006