Wash the French beans thoroughly in water and drain.Then pat dry using a kitchen towel. Chop the pointed edges from both the ends and string them using a knife. Place them on a chopping board and slice them diagonally into strips. Boil some water in a pan. Add a pinch of salt and soda for it will help it cook faster and retain the colour too. Add the chopped French beans and boil for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain it. To enhance its colour, it can be immersed in cold water for another 5 minutes and then drained again.