HungryForever

STIR–FRIED GREEN BEANS WITH SOY AND PEANUT DRESSING

Although this requires some last minute stir-frying, you can part-cook the beans in boiling water well in advance, so they take literally four minutes to finish off. It’s important to get the pan hot enough to blister the beans and give them some colour – if you have one now’s the time to bring out your wok as it will help you to control the temperature more easily than a heavy pan.

Servings

Ingredients

300g green beanstrimmed
2tbsp crunchy peanut butteror 3peanuts blitzed in a food processor
1tbsp soy sauce
½tbsp rice vinegar
½tbsp brown sugar
Flavourless oile.g. groundnut, for frying
2 garlic clovespeeled and finely chopped
2tbsp Sesame seedstoasted, to serve

Instructions

Blanch the beans in salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and refresh in cold iced water.
Put the peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar and sugar in a bowl and mix together. Add 1–2 tablespoons hot water if the mixture is very thick. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Place a heavy-based frying pan or wok over a medium heat and add a dash of oil. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until golden. Toss in the beans and cook for 2–3 minutes, until beginning to blister slightly on the outside.
Lower the heat, add the peanut dressing and stir well.
Transfer the beans to a serving bowl and sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds.