Recipe for the week of June 17 - 23, 2024

Stir-Fried Mixed String Beans

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup Blue Lake beans, trimmed

  • 1 cup Dragon Tongue beans, trimmed

  • 1 cup Yellow Wax beans, trimmed

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

  • 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Wash and trim the ends of all the beans. If the beans are long, you can cut them in half.

  2. Blanch the Beans: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the beans and blanch them for 2-3 minutes until they are bright and slightly tender. Drain and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.

  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, and stir fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

  4. Add the sliced bell pepper and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.

  5. Add the blanched beans to the skillet and stir fry for another 3-4 minutes, until they are tender-crisp.

  6. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), and sesame oil. Stir well to coat all the beans.

  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  8. Transfer the stir-fried beans to a serving dish. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve hot.

Jim Tinsky