Beans curry (cooked in channa dal)

Here in the NY markets are usually flooded with fresh green beans during this time of the year,I discovered the farm fresh green beans of spring and how good they look and taste.I’m not normally a fan of French beans, but I invariably pick up these beans because they look so green and fresh.There are certain recipes which bring out the flavor of the vegetable being cooked, taste as good and Beans is one exotic vegatble. I present you one of my favroite way of making green beans curry and bringing out the flavor of these exiquisite beans. Get set, Go

Ingredients:
French beans - a handful, chopped, parboiled
Toor dal - 1/4 cup
Channa dal - a handful
Onion - 1 chopped
Garlic - 2 cloves, finely chopped
Oil - 5 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 6
Asafoetida - a pinch
Chopped coriander leaves for garnish

To grind:
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
Grated fresh coconut - 2 tsp
Dry red chillies - 4
Asafoetida - a generous pinch.

Grind the above ingredients into a smooth paste.

Procedure:
Soak the toor dal & channa dal for 4 hours, drain & grind to a coarse paste ( like how you grind for masala vadai)along with the ground masala paste & salt to taste.
Steam cook the ground paste by using idli cooker & steam them on greased idli plates like how you do for idlis for 10 mins.Cool & crumble the cooked dal paste & keep aside.
In a pan, heat the oil & season with the mustard seeds, curry leaves & asafoetida. Add the onions & garlic & fry for few minute.
Then add the cooked beans and put the lid on & sauté for about 3 to 4 mins. Now add the crumbled dal paste & stir fry over low heat for about 5 to 6 mins , till the mixture turns golden & dry.
Finally garnish it with coriender leaves and serve hot wth steamed rice.