Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry, a simple yet delectable side dish that will definitely pair well with a plethora of main dishes. Green beans are still gracing our organic farmers' markets, and they look fabulous. Pick up a bunch and try this dish, it is fabulous!
Song of the day: "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd.
A fabulous side dish...............
Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry, a side dish full of flavor from the sesame oil to the soy sauce, and the garlic to the ginger, with just a touch of Chinese five spice to liven things up.
Fresh is best.........
I come from an Italian family, and having fresh vegetables in the summer was the norm. My mother and father loved gardening and growing green beans was one of their favorites. So when I see these lovely crisp thin long green beans in the market I light up with many fond memories and the delicious ways to prepare them.
Naturally, Nicoletta and I were at one of our regular Thursday night farmers markets and a stop at Steve and Dan's sent us home with one of my favorites, yes you guessed it, long green beans.
As a kid....................
Many years ago, when I was a kid, there were things I loved doing. Riding my bike, playing outside, using my imagination, playing instruments, however, for my time I was a bit different and loved cooking. I especially loved prepping beans. My mom or dad would pick the beans from our large garden, or what I thought to be a large garden. Then, we would all sit and break the ends off the beans and wash them.
Water was my best friend...........
My parents would do a lot of their gardening prep outside. When it came time to wash the veggies we had this large metal vat. When water was involved I was there like a kid at a toy store getting my hands in the water washing those beans. I can hear those sounds of the trickling water as I write this. Such fond memories and I have to thank my parents for exposing me to such great gardening and food!
Oh, by the way, I am still a water baby and if you have ever had a chance to see our back yard giardino you will see that water is my best friend.
Now back to these delicious beans!
Simple ingredients, simple cooking.................
All you need for this Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry is:
- Fresh long green beans
- A nice pinch of ginger
- Garlic
- peanut and sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Vegetable stock
- Sesame seeds
- Chinese five spice
- Salt and pepper
Stir fry all the way.......
One of my favorite cooking techniques is stir-frying. I love how it preserves the freshness of the vegetables and it is quick and easy. For this Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry, it is no different. The process goes something like this:
- Splash some peanut oil and sesame oil into a wok, along with the garlic and ginger, and heat.
- Toss in green beans which you can blanch in boiling water first for a few minutes, it is really up to you.
- Season with Chines five spice, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in a bit of vegetable stock and soy sauce.
- Top with sesame seeds.
- That's it, ready to serve with a garnish of thinly sliced green onion.
Out of this world good.............
I wish you could smell the aroma in the kitchen, the sesame oil, garlic, and ginger has me salivating and the nice char on the beans has me wanting to steal a few before they hit the table. I won't tell if you don't.
That al dente texture is superb. The nice bite as my teeth break into the bean is music to my ears. The combination of the oils brings such smoky nuttiness to the mix, however, the ginger, garlic, Chinese five spice has my taste buds singing the mmmmmm song. The soy sauce and vegetable stock provide just enough saltiness to beans that have this juiciness to them in every bite.
Eat your veggies.........
I am sure everyone has heard this line before. "Eat your veggies!" Well, that doesn't mean they have to be those steamed lifeless have to give them CPR that was the norm back when. This Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry is a great way to elevate an already extraordinary vegetable.
Lucky for us we have a lot of passionate farmers growing wonderful produce, hence creating amazing dishes like this one. As a result, you have a side dish that pairs well with many mains like roasted chicken, BBQ steak, and a lot of other options!
Give this one a try!
Enjoy!
Song of the day: "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd.
Print
Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry
Ginger Sesame Green Bean Stir-Fry, a simple yet delectable side dish that will definitely pair well with a plethora of main dishes. Green beans are still gracing our organic farmers' markets, and they look fabulous. Pick up a bunch and try this dish it is fabulous!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 2
Ingredients
Sir Fry:
- 260 g fresh long green beans, ends cut and washed
- 2 Tbsp peanut oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 Tbsp chopped ginger
- Dash of Chinese five spice, onion and garlic powder, salt and white pepper
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp vegetable stock
- 1 ½ Tbsp sesame seeds
Garnish:
- 1 green onion cleaned washed and cut into this diagonals
- Sprinkling of sesame seeds
Instructions
Stir fry:
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil, add beans and cook for 5 minutes, toss beans in cold water, drain and set aside.
- Pour oil into a wok and toss in ginger and garlic.
- Turn on heat to a medium to high setting and let ginger and garlic saute for a few seconds. Do not allow garlic to burn.
- Add in beans and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Season with Chinese five spice, onion and garlic powder and finally salt and pepper.
- Pour in soy sauce and vegetable stock add some sesame seeds and stir fry for another 6-8 minutes until desired texture is achieved.
Garnish:
- Garnish with sliced green onion and some more sesame seeds.
- Ready to serve.
Enjoy!
Notes
- Blanching the beans is optional. If you like your beans a bit more crunchy then toss them into the wok after washing and drying them.
- You can use the combination of vegetable oil and sesame oil, or go straight sesame oil for that extra smoky nutty flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: stir fry
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: long green beans, garlic, sesame oil, peanut oil, Chinese five spice, sesame seeds, ginger, soy sauce, stir-fry, side dish
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Gloria says
Yup...it is green bean season. The gardens and markets are full of fresh beans. This is the perfect side dish for any bbq party. Loved by all.
★★★★★
Thank you Gloria. I love this time of year and you walk into the markets and see all that lovely produce. However I sure do miss those fresh beans from my parents garden!
Have a wonderful week!
Loreto
Jeff the Chef says
My husband loves green beans. I love them too, but he could eat them every single day. So, I'm always glad to see a new way to make them. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. Yes i find the fun of cooking is trying new ideas and combination, and its a plus when it turns out well.
Have a great day!
Loreto
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
As a kid, I hated green beans but now, I can't get enough of them! Your recipe sounds so good and easy! Can't wait to try it!
★★★★★
Thanks Lori. I never had the chance to not like them. When i was young we had so many in the garden and my parents had such lovely delicious ways to make them. When I discovered Asian flavors I was quick to apply them to beans and they are so flavorful and full of texture!
Cheers!
Loreto
Kelly Anthony says
I'm always looking for ways to dress up green beans. Our family loves fresh green beans and this recipe will be a major hit at our house.
★★★★★
Thank you Kelly. Yes this recipe is so simple and I know when I make it everyone loves it!
Happy cooking!
Cheers Loreto
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
Yummy! What a great veggie side dish with tonnes of flavor! I think I could have this by itself!
★★★★★
Marisa F. Stewart says
What a great side dish for this weekend. We're having the family over and I love the Oriental spin on the green beans. Hubby loves his German style -- you know cooked until the beans have no life and are with a smoked hock. I'm going to the Farmer's Market today, I'll look for some green beans.
★★★★★
Hi Carrie you are so right on having this dish on its own. I can pick and pick at these green beans till there are none. Thank you for checking them out!
Cheers!
Loreto
Hi Marisa totally understand that lifeless vegetable, however these are so full of life and surprising textures and flavors, that it might shed some new life in the area of veggie side dishes.
Happy bean cooking!
Loreto
Kate says
This looks like a delicious way to prepare green beans! I always cook them the same way and it gets boring, so I am looking forward to trying this recipe. I'm sure the Chinese 5 spice adds an interesting dimension!
★★★★★
Hi Kate, I can only say that I am a big fan of Asian cuisine and I use five spice a lot. It does add such a unique flavor profile and with the sesame oil, garlic, and sesame seeds it pure magic in the mouth. Definitely adds some interesting dimension. Hope you get to try it!
Thank you!
Anne Murphy says
When I was a child we'd go to my grandmother's up in the country, and get fresh vegeetables from a local farm stand. It was always my job to snap beans, shell peas, and shuck corn! LOL
They just boiled them, then, though. I do like to stir fry beans too, but I haven't tried sesame oil. On my list to try!
★★★★★
I love your childhood story. It painted a beautiful Norman Rockwell moment, one I understand and feel deep within my memories. As for the sesame oil, it is wonderful adds this smoky nutty back drop that pairs well with the freshness of the beans fused with those Asian spices. Thank you Anne for your wonderful comment!
Cheers!
Amanda Mason says
I love that you used peanut/sesame oil in this recipe alongside the Chinese Five Spice! Amazing taste combination! I'm loving this side dish! It goes so perfectly with everything!
★★★★★
Thanks Amanda, I watched quite a few Asian cooking shows and peanut oil along side sesame oil was what I stumbled upon when starting to experience cooking Asian dishes. I was so happy with these green beans that it is a dish that graces our table on many an occasion!
Happy cooking!
Loreto
Michele says
This is such a tasty and flavorful way to make green beans. I love that you made it a stir fry. Looks amazing!
★★★★★
Thank you Michele, I just love stir frying. I adore how the vegetables still have a bit of bite and the flavor is crisp and delicious. Add in all those spices and you have a dish that is simple but very interesting in a great way!
Nicole says
These green beans have a delicious Asian flare! I love the ingredients you have in this dish. Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome Nicole, I am a Asian cooking fan from very young teen years. I watched intently learning from TV cooking shows and trial and error. I can happily say this dish is a great success story and the empty side dishes are a beautiful site! Thank you so much for commenting!
Loreto
Julie says
Ooooh stir fried green beans is one of my favorite dishes to order when we get Chinese food --- but I've never thought to try making it at home! I can't wait to give this a try!
Hi Julie, thanks, can't wait for you to start stir frying those green beans. I love the crispness and all those wonderful Asian flavors!
Happy stir frying!
Sara says
These are gorgeous. We just had green beans tonight with dinner, and I wish I would have looked at your recipe beforehand! I love that you have simple ingredients that pack SO much flavor!
★★★★★
Thanks Sara, I think there are still some beans gracing the market so it is never too late. I find these just like eating chips you can't stop picking at them and they are a wonderful finger food, lol!
Have a great day!
Loreto