Preparations:

Wash cluster beans. Take one bean and observe the sides. Break the tip of the bean with your finger. Now break a piece and pull the piece away from you so that the fiber gets detached from the piece. (Watch carefully the movie to understand better) Hold the protruding fiber and pull it downwards so that it gets detached from the bean. Like this remove the fiber from the beans as much a s possible. Repeat the process and break the cluster beans into medium sized pieces and remove the fiber.

Take the bean pieces into a microwave safe bowl and add 40ml water. Place this bowl in oven and cover it partially. Cook the beans on high power for 5 minutes. Stir once and cover cooked for 7 minutes on high power. Allow 3 minutes standing time and remove the bowl from oven.

Peel onions and chop them finely.

Method:

Heat a pan and add oil to it. When oil is hot add the bengal gram and black gram and fry till the seeds start changing color. Then add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Fry the seeds splutter. Then add the curry leaves and chopped onions and mix well. Fry till onions turn translucent. Now add the cooked cluster beans and mix. Then add salt, red chili powder and turmeric powder. Mix all well and cook covered for 2 minutes stirring in between if required.Transfer the curry to a serving bowl and serve hot with plain rice.

Points to Remember:

Do not be tempted to cut the cluster beans instead of stringing them. If you cut the cluster beans the fiber will remain and while you are eating it will trouble you. So it is better to string the beans and remove fiber as much as possible.

While cooking the vegetable in microwave oven, the timings given here are to be taken as guideline. The timings of cooking may differ from oven to oven depending upon the capacity and make. Cook till the vegetables are cooked properly adding required amount of water. The beauty of cooking in a microwave oven is the vegetables will not become mushy if they are cooked for a few minutes more. If you add more water while cooking the vegetables, drain the excess water after the vegetables are cooked and use this water in dal preparation or in any gravy preparations.

As there is no water left in the vegetables after cooking in a microwave oven take care while seasoning the curry.