Green Beans with Sesame are perfect as a side for a quick weeknight dinner or for parties.Takes only 15 minutes and less than 5 ingredients to make. Naturally vegan & can be made gluten-free!

Green beans are probably my least favorite vegetables (technically they are fruits). I have always associated them with hospital food or casserole which again I am not a fan of. But if you stir fry green beans in sesame oil and top it with toasted sesame seeds, it becomes a magical side-dish that I cannot get enough of. I have made Green Beans with Sesame several times now as a side dish and  it even made an appearance at our Friendsgiving table. If you are like me judging and running away from green beans, maybe you should give a second change to Green Beans with Sesame.

Since the internet is filled with all things holiday parties, gift-guides and chocolate I thought I’d take a break and share a delicious, nutritious Greens Beans with Sesame which is a total weeknight deal + perfect party material! I promise more chocolate & decadent dessert will follow next week. I recently received a copy of Dorie Greenspan’s book dedicated to cookies, so most likely I will be buried in butter and sugar if you need me this weekend.

Green beans are available all year long but their peak season is between May – September. Like most vegetables, green beans are high in fiber, vitamin A, B6, thiamin, and C and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It’s a pretty versatile vegetable that can be steamed, stir-fried, used in casserole and soups. I am using fresh green beans for Green Beans with Sesame recipe but you can find green beans in frozen and canned form as well.

On a completely different side note – my family + BFF are visiting for my graduation next week! Being the impatient self, I am literally counting every hour now and it’s definitely not helping. Totally irrelevant to Green Beans with Sesame but had to be mentioned as I am going through major graduationitis.

Green Beans with Sesame is made with less than 5 ingredients and I need you not skip 2 star ingredients – 100% sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, both of which are usually found in Asian or International grocery store. I have seen them at other stores too but they are just 5x expensive.

Naturally Green Beans with Sesame are vegan but can be made gluten-free (see notes). I’d love for you to give Green Beans with Sesame a try as it only takes 15 minutes to make and did I mention very delicious?

Green Beans with Sesame

Serves: 3-4

Green Beans with Sesame are perfect as a side for a quick weeknight dinner or for parties. Takes only 15 minutes and less than 5 ingredients to make. Naturally vegan & can be made gluten-free!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon neutral oil such as canola
• 2 teaspoon 100% sesame oil + 1 teaspoon for drizzling later
• 1 pound green beans, washed and ends trimmed
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 2-3 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds
• salt, pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large wok or skillet (I used cast iron skillet), heat both oils together.
2. Add green beans to the skillet and stir fry for 8-10 minutes until you start seeing brown spots.
3. Add soy sauce and remove from the pan. Let it sit for few minutes.
4. Serve it hot.
5. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and drizzle sesame oil right before serving

Notes

Soy sauce is made with fermented wheat, which is not gluten-free! If you follow gluten-free lifestyle, you should perhaps check out certain brands like Little Soya, Kari-Out, Eden Organic tamari-style soy sauce, kikkoman tamari-style soy sauce, and San-J tamari-style soy sauce. Tamari is thicker, less salty, fermented soy sauce that can be used as an replacement for soy sauce but you may have to adjust the quantity based on your taste and texture required for the recipe.

Are you a fan of green beans?

Would you make this recipe? If you did, I’d love for you to share and tag me on instagram @foodpleasurehealth