1 lb. fresh green beans
4 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. whole black mustard seeds
4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1/2-1 hot, dried red chili, coarsely crushed in a blender
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
Freshly ground black pepper

Trim the beans and cut them into one-inch lengths. Blanch the beans by dropping them into a pot of boiling water and boil rapidly for 2-3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold, running water; set aside.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds. Ass soon as the mustard seeds begin to pop, add the garlic. Stir the garlic pieces around until they turn light brown. Then add the crushed red chili and stir for a few seconds.

Pour in the green beans, salt and sugar. Stir to mix. Stir and cook the beans for 7-8 minutes or until they have absorbed the flavor of the spices. Add the black pepper, mix and serve.