When we visit a Chinese buffet, I always go for the green beans in the savory brown stir fry sauce. They’re fresh, spicy and crunchy all at the same time. Store bought sauces can be loaded with sodium and other unsavory ingredients. Here’s how to make sesame green beans with your own stir fry sauce. It’s sure to be a Meatless Mondays hit.
If you can find them go with fresh, whole green beans. Trim the stems and cut off any bad spots, then give them a rinse. Let them drain while you make the sauce. Pat them dry with a paper towel before adding them to the hot oil. Whole frozen green beans can be a good choice but they need to be thawed, picked over and patted dry.
This is a good, all around stir fry sauce recipe compiled from many on the web then tweaked and perfected to suit us. You should end up with about a cup and a half of sauce. You won’t need all of it for this recipe so put the leftovers in a jar and store them in the fridge. It will keep for at least a month, if it doesn’t get used first.
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans washed and trimmed
- vegetable oil for frying
- pinch red pepper flake
- sesame seeds toasted if desired
For the Stir Fry Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce we used tamari
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce we used a low-sodium brand
- 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
Instructions
- Mix the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently.
- Reduce the heat and continue to stir while the sauce reduces and thickens.
- The sauce is ready when it coats the spoon, but still runs freely.
For the string beans
- Thinly cover the bottom of a large skillet or stir fry pan with oil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Heat over high heat until very hot, then add the green beans. There will be a lot of hissing and popping, but keep moving the string beans around.
- Continue to cook for several minutes until the string beans are crisp tender.
- Stir in a quarter cup or more of the stir fry sauce and a couple tablespoons of sesame seeds. Toss to coat.
Now that you know the basics of how to make sesame string beans and your own stir fry sauce, you’ll be able to make them whenever you want.
Do you make your own stir fries? What’s your favorite?
I have always really loved green beans, and your sesame green beans look delicious!
Wow – these look really great – and I bet we’d love them – saying that, you’d have to understand that I do not like green beans, ugh! But – now this is so different, I am going to give it a try! Thank you 🙂
Good luck! Maybe try the method with broccoli or snap pea pods instead?
These do look incredibly delicious. I generally like my string beans raw but this way would give it a bit of a kick.
Those look perfectly delectable! Green beans are one of those guilt-free veggies too!
Yum! A love just plain green beans but this recipe would take things to a whole new level! A great way to get those not into veggies to eat more! Looks fabulous!
Yummmm Lydia! I once made similar beans like ages ago, and now I’m totally craving. I’ve never made a stir fry sauce before, I always just throw ingredients in – your recipe sounds delicious, I’m going to have to try it! Pinning to save 🙂
These look AMAZING! I want to try them!
Green beans are one of my favorite vegetables. This preparation sounds incredible. I need to pick up some of the ingredients tonight!
That looks so good. I love the taste of sweet and savory.
This sounds and looks good! Gonna pin this one!
Those sound SO good. I am definitely going to try those.
Mmm, these look incredible. We have been on a green bean kick lately and this looks like the perfection option to add to our menu. I will definitely be trying these out!