Stir-Fried Sesame Green Beans

Made in-season stir-fried sesame green beans is a delectable side dish. The window for good, fresh green beans happens in midsummer, so take advantage! Though green beans are generally available year-round, they’re amazing when newly harvested.

Otherwise, you might expect tough and stringy. The season for fresh green beans is a lot shorter than for many other forms of produce. Basically, it’s June through September, and in some areas, just July and August.

Serve with: As a side dish, this adds spark to many types of Asian-style tofu, seitan, or noodle dishes, but it jazzes up other types of recipes as well. Serve hot, straight from the pan, or at room temperature.

Can you make this with frozen green beans? Sure, but it won’t be as good. If you must, use whole baby green beans, preferably organic. Thaw nearly completely before using.

Explore dozens more easy green bean recipes.

Variations

• This side dish can also be made long beans, snap peas, snow peas, or a combination.
• For a spicier dish, add 1 to 2 fresh hot chile peppers, seeded and cut into thin slivers.
• Add a small amount of fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, sage, rosemary, or a combination)

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Yield: 4

Stir-Fried Sesame Green Beans

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Made in-season stir-fried sesame green beans is a delectable side dish. The window for good, fresh green beans happens in midsummer, so take advantage!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon neutral vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
• 1 teaspoon natural granulated sugar
• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Heat the oils, soy sauce, and sugar slowly in a stir-fry pan. Add the green beans, onion, and garlic, and stir quickly to coat. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
2. Uncover and add 1/4 cup water. Raise the heat to medium-high, then stir-fry until the green beans are tender-crisp to your liking. If you’d like to keep going, cook until they’re slightly seared in spots, but don’t overdo it — you want them to stay nice and green. Cooking time will vary according to the tenderness and thickness of the green beans. 
3. Remove from the heat and toss the green beans with the pepper and sesame seeds. Serve warm straight from the pan, or transfer to a bowl and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Variations

• This side dish can also be made long beans, snap peas, snow peas, or a combination.
• For a spicier dish, add 1 to 2 fresh hot chile peppers, seeded and cut into thin slivers.
• Add a small amount of fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, sage, rosemary, or a combination)

If you like this green bean dish, you might also enjoy …

Green Beans with Tomatoes and Chile Peppers (Ejotes)

Lemony Bulgur Pilaf with Green Beans & Mushrooms

See lots more easy vegan stir-fries and salads & side dishes.

Photos at top: NatashaBreen/Bigstock