Green Beans

Seared Green Beans and Chiles

Serves 4
Prep: 30 minutes
Once the beans are trimmed, all you need is a large, hot pan, and the rest is one big, quick sizzling action. These will keep for up to a week in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbs. canola or peanut oil
  • 1 lb. green beans, trimmed
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
  • ¼ tsp. to ½ tsp. red pepper flakes, optional

Directions:

  • Heat large, deep skillet or wok 2 minutes over medium heat.
  • Add oil, and swirl to coat pan.
  • Increase heat to high, wait 30 seconds, then add green beans and big pinch of salt.
  • Cook 3 minutes, shaking pan or using tongs to turn and move beans so they cook quickly and evenly.
  • Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, if desired, and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly, or until beans are crisp-tender.

Green Bean and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium sweet potato (about ½ pound), peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 3 tablespoons peanut or canola oil
  • 1 cup chopped shallots/ onion, or leeks
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
  • 3 small hot green chiles, cut crosswise
  • 12 oz green beans, cut as above
  • 2-4 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk
  • 1 cup water or broth
  • 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • Juice of 1 lime

Directions:

  • In a medium pot cover the potatoes with enough water to cover them well, Bring to a boil. Cover, turn the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are almost done but still hold their shape well (~5 min).
  • Put the oil in a large saute pan and set on medium-high When hot, put in the shallots/red onion/leeks, garlic, ginger, and green chiles. Saute 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the green beans and saute for another minute. Add the curry powder and stir. Add the coconut milk (shake can before using), 1 cup of water/broth, turmeric, cinnamon stick, salt, and sweet potatoes.
  • Stir and bring to a boil.
  • Cover, turn heat to medium and cook ~15 minutes, or until the beans are just tender. Add the lime juice and stir it in. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve.

Notes:

Frozen green beans can be used in this recipe with good results, but if used then only cook for 5 min after adding them to the pan. I’ve used commercially prepared curry powder for this recipe, but if you want to be completely authentic the recipe for the curry powder called for in this recipe is below. If making your own curry then I suggest using the full amount called for in the recipe as it is a mild curry. I use the Hungarian yellow peppers I grow in my garden instead of the ones called for in this recipe. These are usually available in local supermarkets if you want to use them. They are generally milder than the chillies called for in the recipe. Potatoes can be substituted for the sweet potatoes.

Sri Lankan Raw Curry Powder

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
  • 3 whole sprigs fresh curry leaves (~60)
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened, dry coconut
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dry rice
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 150o F or the lowest temperature setting.
  • Place all ingredients on a baking sheet and put in oven for 1 hr. Remove from oven and cool.
  • Grind in a spice grinder and store in a tightly lidded jar.
  • If you can’t find curry leaves (I don’t know of any local source) substitute cilantro leaves.