French beans with Mushroom

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Beans is one of the main sides that is served during thanksgiving. But I am making my beans special with mushrooms. This is a variation to my previous preparation of French beans with Artichoke. Mushroom and beans combination turned out to be great and very different in taste. Whenever I have prepared this it was instant hit. Espcially for the fact that the green beans have their color intact. This what I am taking for thanksgiving potluck at our friend's place today. So enjoy the holiday, count your blessings and show your gratitude to your loved ones. :o)

Serves: 6 | Prep Time: 5 min. | Cooking Time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

• French beans     – 1 Lb. (About 2 ½ cups)
• Mushrooms  – 3 Lb. (About 4 cups when chopped)
• Onion               – 1 medium (About 1 cup. Finely chopped)
• Garlic               – 1 tbsp. (Finely chopped)
• Cumin seeds     – ½ tsp.
• Olive Oil           – 2 tsp.
• Salt                 – to taste

For Sauce -

• Chinese Chili Garlic Sauce – 1 tbsp. (or more if you like it hot :o))
• Lime juice    - 1 tbsp.
• Besan/ Chick Peas flour – 2 tbsp.
• Tomato Paste (1 tbsp.)/ Tomato Ketchup – 2 tbsp.

Method of Preparation:

Prepare Beans -

~ Heat a pot of water with salt to bring it to boil (around 4 cups).

~ Wash and trim the ends of beans. Cut them two inch long.

~ Put them in the boiling water and cook for about 7 minutes on high. (Until the raw smell of the beans goes away and little froth starts around the beans and settle in 2 minutes.) Do not overcook and make the beans soggy.

~ Drain the water and immediately rinse the beans with a cup of cold water. Keep it aside.

Prepare Mushroom –

~ Wipe and clean mushroom with a wet paper towel. (You can wash, but be sure to dry them well; they soak quite a bit of water when washed)

~ Discard the hard stem part and chop mushrooms in chunks.

~ Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and garlic.

~ Once they splutter, add Onion and fry until translucent.

~ Increase the heat and add mushrooms. Fry for few minutes on high, (about 5 min.) reduce the heat and cook mushroom till half done.

~ In a small bowl add everything that’s under sauce, and mix to make a paste. If required add very little water.

~ Make space in the middle of the pan between the mushrooms and add the sauce that you prepared in above step. Cook the sauce while constantly stirring.

~ Mix it all up with mushrooms.

~ Once cooked mushrooms reduce in size, so now add the salt and switch off the heat.

Putting it all together –

In a serving dish, place beans at the bottom. Pour hot mushroom gravy on top. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and leave it for atleast 15 minutes or until ready to serve. Mix it up and serve it warm.

Sending this to Radhika's winter carnival event and Sreelu's Thanksgiving Recipes