Spicy Green Beans with Sesame Seeds - Comfort food at its best!

Every once in a while, I crave for something that I've not eaten in a long time. It doesn't matter what it ends up to be - It could be a dish that mom makes, or a dish that I ate at my friend's place or something that I relished during a dinner at a restaurant. Sometimes, strangely it could even just bring back memories about my vacation somewhere! But once that craving is planted in me, it will ignite and will keep growing until I get that tang of it. Sometimes we end-up hunting for that restaurant that we visited long ago, or sometimes I cook it myself no matter how busy I am. Its that certain thing that sticks in my memory that I can't seem to forget when I crave for it. It may sound ridiculous, but any food lover's craving is very similar to what I said.

This is one such dish that I started having a craving for, since last week. I used to make it often a while back, but don't know why I suddenly discontinued! But after spotting fresh green beans often in my local grocery, I started longing for this spicy dish! I just couldn't resist picking some of them last weekend. How can I not? I had to hunt back for the recipe in my notes and finally made it today!

From a former green beans hater, to making many dishes nowadays with green beans is quite a significant progress for me. I was never fond of green beans. Call me unsophisticated, but I never liked its flavor and texture especially when in its crunchy. Back in India, the only recipe that I am familiar with green beans is the "poriyal". That according to me, in those days, was so bland and lethargic that it didn't attract me. So I lived in ignorance, unaware of the pleasure this vegetable offers when its made spicy! Now I am a convert. Spicy green beans is one of my favourites now. Especially when I make it this way with sesame seeds, its a pleasure to taste it! Pair it with Rice and sambar, its a fulfilling menu! Its interesting to me, the fact that, with just a little thought, and a touch here and there, a basic vegetable can become something exciting!

Ingredients:

• Green Beans - chopped to 2 inch pieces - 3 cups
• Onions - 1 medium
• Garlic - 3 cloves
• White or Black Sesame seeds - 1 tbsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Garam masala - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Sesame seeds - 1 tsp (for seasoning)

Procedure:

• Boil the chopped green beans with salt until its 3/4 th cooked.
• Dry roast the sesame seeds until they turn golden brown. Blend them together with chilli powder and salt to a fine powder. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a pan, season with cumin seeds and sesame seeds.
• Fry chopped onions and chopped garlic and saute for 3 mins.
• Now add the cooked beans and increase the heat until the water completely evaporates.
• Add the sesame seeds powder, mix well, cover and cook for 5 mins.
• Once the beans are fully cooked, add the garam masala, saute for a couple of mins, or until the mixture is fully dry.

Serve hot with Rotis or Rice.