Dish of Green Beans with Yogurt
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Green Beans with Yogurt


Georgia   -   Mtsvani Lobios Borani
Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 5 side
**
1-1/4 hrs
Prep		 Borani, simmered vegetables topped with yogurt, is a popular side dish in Georgia, and suitable as a side dish for almost any Western cuisine.

1
6
1
1/2
1-1/2
------
1/4
2
1/3
1/2
------
1
1/4
4
-----
1
#
oz
cl
t
oz
---
t

t
t
---
c
c
T
---
T
Green Beans (1)  
Onion
Garlic
Salt
Herbs (2)
-- Spices
Cinnamon
Cloves
Peppercorns
Salt
------
Yogurt
Ice Water
Butter (3)
-- Garnish
Mint, fresh

This green bean version is often served with tabaka (flattened roast chicken). Recipes of this type are related to Persian Borani-e and Indian Boorani.

PREP   -   (45 min)
  1. Tip and tail GREEN BEANS and cut crosswise into pieces about 1-1/2 inches long. Par boil them in lightly salted water until just crisp tender (they will get more cooking later). Refresh under cold water and drain well.
  2. Chop ONION fine.
  3. Crush GARLIC and chop small. Pound to paste with 1-1/2 t Salt in a mortar.
  4. Chop HERBS fairly fine.
  5. Grind together Spices.
  6. Whip together Yogurt, Ice Water and Garlic Paste.
  7. Chop MINT for Garnish.
RUN   -   (20 min)
  1. In a spacious sauté pan, melt Butter and fry Onions over moderate heat until translucent.
  2. Stir in Beans and Spice Mix. Cover and simmer slowly, stirring a few times, until beans are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in Herbs and simmer 1 minute more.
  4. Pour Beans into your serving dish. Pour Yogurt mix over and garnish with Mint. Serve.
NOTES:

  1. Green Beans:

      For this dish the beans should be fresh, young and tender.

  2. Herbs:

      Weight is after removal of stems and damaged leaves - it's about 1/2 cup loosely packed. This should be a mix of Cilantro, Parsley, Basil, Dill, Summer Savory and Tarragon, or as many as you have, but Cilantro and Parsley are required. Go heavy on the Cilantro and light on the Tarragon.

  3. Butter:

      I have cut the butter down from 6 tablespoons. Feel free to increase it if you wish, adding the last two tablespoons when you stir in the beans.
  4. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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