Spicy Green Beans

Spicy Green Beans

food52.com
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 pounds fresh green beans
  • 1.5 piece of ginger peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 10 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1.5 cups water divided
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 2 medium tomatoes peeled and finely chopped
  • 1.25 teaspoons Kosher salt more or less to taste
  • 1 lemon halved
  • 1 teaspoon ground, roasted cumin see note below
  • freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Trim the beans and cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch lengths.Put the ginger and garlic into the container of an electric blender or food processor. Add 1/2 cup of water and blend until fairly smooth.Put the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium heat. When hot, add the cumin seeds. Five seconds later, add the crushed red pepper flakes. As soon as it darkens, pour in the ginger-garlic paste. Stir and cook for about a minute. Add the coriander. Stir a few times. Add the chopped tomatoes. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes, mashing up the tomato pieces with the back of a slotted spoon as you do.Put in the beans, salt (maybe not all of it to start), and the remaining water. Bring to a simmer. Cover, turn heat to low, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the beans are tender. Remove the cover and add the juice of half a lemon, the ground roasted cumin seeds, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.Taste and adjust with more lemon, salt, and/or pepper as necessary.  (Recipe #783)

Notes

To make ground, roasted cumin: Toast a teaspoon of whole cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook until the cumin seeds have turned a few shades darker and are smelling fragrant. Grind in spice grinder or mortar and pestle.