Green Beans with Mustard Oil and Black Mustard Seeds

Mustard oil scares me. Scared me enough to go out and find it, and try it.

Did you know its illegal to sell for consumption? Nevertheless, my local asian market had at least three brands - in amongst the other oils, and labeled "for external use only".

This recipe calls for 1-2T mustard oil, but when I smelled it, I was afraid of a total revolt at the dinner table. Wow is that stuff pungent - and not in a nice way. I used only 1/2T - it is sauteed with scallions, the beans are parboiled, and then added to the mustard oil, and black mustard seeds are sprinkled in.

Amazingly enough, by the time it was served, the bad aromas were gone, and what was left was a bean dish with a slightly unusual - and good - flavor!

Have any of you used mustard oil? There is an interesting article about it in the New York Times (try googling it).