GLOSSY GREEN BEANS UPKARI Amchi, Vegan

                                                              GREEN  BEANS UPKARI

                                               GLOSSY GREEN BEANS UPKARI

                                                                 Amchi,  Vegan

An upkari is a simple and elegant way of cooking vegetables which are first uniformly cut, then tempered with a few spices, stir fried and steamed to a finish.  Upkaris have no gravy and are served alongside rice and curry, or with Indian breads like chapatis, puris and naans.

INGREDIENTS

10 oz fresh green beans cut into 1/3 inch rounds

or

1 package frozen cut green beans, about 10 oz

2 tsp coconut butter or vegetable oil

3/4 tsp black mustard seeds

5 fenugreek seeds

1 small dry red chili

7 curry leaves

1/8 tsp asafoetida

1/2 tsp salt

pinch sugar

DIRECTIONS

Heat the coconut butter over medium heat in a non stick pan.

Toss in the mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dry chili and curry leaves.  Cover.  Wait to hear them begin to pop.

(I turn the heat WAY DOWN when the delicate mustard seeds begin popping to prevent them from burning).

Add the asafoetida and stir all the seasonings.

Add the green beans and salt to the pan. 

Stir gently for about 3 minutes over medium heat.

Turn the heat to low.

Cover and cook till done, about 7 minutes.

The green beans will be glossy with the coconut butter or oil, tender and quietly tasty.

Check the salt.  :)  Salt right!

Add a pinch of sugar and a dash of lemon juice if you like.

Enjoy!