Manipur Ikaithabi Yardlong Bean Ngari Dry Stir Meitei

Ingredients

• 300g yardlong beans (ikaithabi — string beans or cowpea beans; cut into 4 cm lengths)
• 2 pieces ngari — roasted and pounded
• 3 garlic cloves — thinly sliced
• 2 to 3 fresh green chillies — roasted over flame until blistered, then roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp mustard oil
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• Salt to taste only if needed

Method

1. Roast ngari pieces 2 minutes. Pound to a paste.
2. Roast green chillies over flame until blistered. Roughly chop.
3. Heat 1 tbsp mustard oil to smoking in a pan.
4. Reduce to medium-high. Add sliced garlic — fry 1 minute until golden.
5. Add yardlong beans. Add turmeric. Toss on high heat for 2 minutes.
6. Add pounded ngari paste and roasted chopped chillies.
7. Toss well to coat all the beans.
8. Cook on medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, tossing regularly, until beans are cooked through but still slightly crisp.
9. This is a completely dry preparation — no water is added.
10. Taste before adding salt.
11. Serve with steamed rice.