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Green beans with sesame dressing served
Vibrant green beans tossed in a savoury crushed sesame and soy dressing

Green Beans with Sesame Dressing

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Side Dishes Starters
One of Japanese cuisine's most brilliant side dishes is Goma-ae. The essence is toasted sesame seeds, crushed just enough to release their oil but remain chunky. This paste coats the 'crunchy' (al dente) cooked green beans, preserving their vibrant green colour and freshness.
🕒 Prep Time 10 mins
🍳 Cook Time 5 mins
⌛ Total Time 15 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 190 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Asian, Japanese (Goma-ae inspired)

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Mortar and pestle or coffee grinder
  • Saucepan for cooking
  • Bowl with iced water

Allergen Information

⚠️ Sesame
⚠️ Soya

Instructions

1 ✓

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over medium heat, shaking constantly, until golden brown and fragrant.

Tip: Be careful, sesame burns in moments! As soon as it's done, pour it out of the hot pan.
2 ✓

Put the seeds in a mortar and crush them roughly. You don't want flour; the goal is an oily, chunky paste.

Tip: Crushing breaks the seed coat and releases the aromatic oils.
3 ✓

Mix the soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil into the crushed sesame. You should get a thick paste.

Tip: The balance of sweet and salty flavours is the essence.
4 ✓

Boil water in a saucepan and salt it. Toss in the green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes. They should be tender but still have a crunch.

Tip: Salt helps preserve chlorophyll, so the beans stay greener.
5 ✓

Transfer the beans immediately to iced water (shocking), leave for 1 minute, then drain thoroughly.

Tip: Sudden cooling stops the cooking process immediately, so the beans don't soften further from their own heat and keep their colour.
6 ✓

Just before serving, toss the beans with the sesame dressing.

Tip: The salt in the soy sauce would draw water out of the beans if left to stand, diluting the sauce.

Recipe FAQ

Why did the green beans turn brown?
Either you overcooked them, or you added the sauce too early. Acids and heat break down the green pigment. Serve fresh!
Can I use frozen beans?
Yes, but the crunch of fresh beans is inimitable in this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 400 g Fresh green beans (ends trimmed)
  • 3 tbsp White sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Sugar (or mirin)
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil