Calypso beans with ginger and black mustard seeds

Ingredients

For the beans

• 2
  
  cups dried calypso or anasazi beans, rinsed
  
• 1
  
  onion
  
• 1
  
  inch ginger
  
• 5
  
  cloves garlic
  
• 2
  
  teaspoons ground cumin
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon ground coriander
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon ground ginger
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon mustard powder
  
• 1
  
  tablespoon neutral oil such as grape seed
  
• 15
  
  ounces coconut milk (1 can)
  
• 2.5
  
  cups water, or more as needed
  
• 
  
  plenty of salt
  

For the tarka

• 2
  
  tablespoons ghee or butter
  
• 1
  
  inch ginger
  
• 1
  
  teaspoon black mustard seeds
  

Directions

1. To prepare the beans, peel and finely mince the ginger and garlic cloves (this can be done in a mini food processor). Heat the oil and saute the onion until glassy. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the spices and cook another minute, until fragrant. Add the coconut milk, water and dried beans. Cook at a low simmer on the stove top or on low in a slow cooker. Make sure that the beans stay submerged in liquid, which may require adding additional water on the stove top, and stir occasionally (or swirl in the slow cooker, to avoid opening frequently). Cook until the beans are soft to the bite, which will happen when their colors mellow, with the brown lightening and the white turning more beige. The cooking time will depend on the dryness of the beans. In my slow cooker, my beans were tender after 4 hours. When they are soft, salt them generously.
2. When you are just about ready to serve the beans, prepare the tarka. Peel and mice the ginger. In a small skillet, heat the ghee or butter until bubbling, and then add the ginger. Let it cook for a few minutes until glassy, then add the mustard seeds. When the seeds start to pop and sizzle, stir the mixture into the beans. Enjoy.