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    Home » Budget Meals

    Sesame Green Beans

    Oct 23, 2012 · Modified: Jan 1, 2022 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

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    Sesame Green Beans - Andrea Meyers

    I remember my father talking about his childhood and how his parents kept food on the table. They raised pigs for a while and my dad hunted with his dad, then later alone. As their family grew, food had to go further, and my dad would comment on how they stretched the family budget. They still only put one chicken on the table, but made a bigger bowl of gravy.

    I’ve thought of that story many times. As my boys have grown and have appetites to match, particularly during growth spurts, I find that the amount of food that formerly gave us leftovers now barely covers mealtime. I can only imagine what the teenage years will be like. My mother talks about how my brothers could go through a couple boxes of cereal a day, and I’ve joked that my boys will all need part-time jobs in high school to help pay the food bills. Aside from that, we add more healthy dishes at mealtime, so instead of making a bigger bowl of gravy I make extra salads and vegetable side dishes, like these sesame green beans. I have a thing for Asian flavors, which my family also enjoys, and these green beans put out a lot of flavor with only a few ingredients and a little work. I can make these while a main dish cooks and sometimes have two woks going at once. I make them a pound at a time, and when there are leftovers, they are great for breakfast or lunch the next day.

    Recipe Notes

    When I make sesame green beans, I like to use thin fresh French beans since they cook quickly and have a great crisp-tender quality. Sesame oil is potent, so a little goes a long way. You can purchase toasted sesame seeds or toast white seeds in a dry skillet for a minute or two, just until they start to turn brown.

    Sesame Green Beans - Andrea Meyers
    Print Pin

    Sesame Green Beans

    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Vegetable
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: green beans, sesame seeds
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 92kcal
    Author: Andrea Meyers

    Equipment

    • wok with lid

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound thin French green beans (trimmed)
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion (thinly sliced)
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 3 teaspoons sesame seeds (toasted)
    US Customary - Metric

    Preparation

    • Heat the water in the wok and place the beans in the water. Cover and allow to steam until the beans are crisp tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer beans to a bowl and cover to keep warm. Pour out the water and dry the wok.
    • Heat the peanut oil and add the onion slices. Sauté until the onions are soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and beans, then stir-fry until the beans are hot and just tender, about 1 minute.
    • Transfer beans and onions to a plate and drizzle on the sesame oil. Season with the sea salt and sprinkle on the sesame seeds, then serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 782IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Share in the comments!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. kristy @ the wicked noodle says

      October 23, 2012 at 7:56 pm

      mmmm...I love the way sesame and green beans go together. Great side dish!

    2. kristy @ the wicked noodle says

      October 23, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      ps. Tried to pin but it wouldn't let me?

      • Andrea says

        October 23, 2012 at 8:22 pm

        Thanks Kristy! I pinned it earlier, so it must be just acting weird.

    3. Kalyn says

      October 24, 2012 at 12:26 pm

      Love all these flavors!

    4. Gomo | cHowDivine says

      October 28, 2012 at 10:39 pm

      This looks so healthy and delicious! And I love the nutty flavor of toasted sesame seeds!

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