Also, add this sauteed bok choy and these garlic butter snap peas to your must-make list! What are long beans anyway? The first distinction to make is that although they may look similar to what are commonly known as “green” beans, they aren’t the same as green beans that are typically found in North American grocery stores. In fact, long beans are more closely related to black-eyed peas. So, let’s dive into what to expect from these lengthy and tasty beans:
How are long beans different than green beans?
Long beans are also known as Chinese long beans, asparagus beans, snake beans, or yard-long beans. They are much longer than green beans, they have a different taste, and take longer to cook due to a slightly tougher exterior. This is why long beans are able to remain crunchy in stir-fries, soups, and stews.
What do long beans taste like?
Long beans have a distinct flavor. They are less sweet than green beans and have an earthy, grassy taste. They lend themselves to savory recipes, like this long beans recipe, that combines toasted sesame oil, minced garlic and ginger, anchovy paste, sriracha, and soy sauce. For this long beans recipe you’ll need:
Long beans: you can get them at certain grocery stores or sometimes at farmers’ markets. Toasted sesame oil and cooking oil: This is what you’ll stir-fry the beans in and gives a base coating of that delicious nutty, sesame flavor. Minced garlic and minced ginger: The sharp zing of both garlic and ginger brings this dish to life. Anchovy paste, or minced anchovies: This gives a slight fishy and salty flavor. It isn’t overwhelming or even detectable once the dish is complete, but the umami it brings to the table is huge. Sriracha: This will add some heat to your dish. You can incorporate it as directed, or put a small amount at a time and adjust it to your liking. Soy sauce: This will provide that rich, salty flavor that we know and love from soy sauce.
On top of that, we use ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce to bring loads of flavor to these beans. To bring the big umami punch to this recipe, we use anchovies. While we use the Italian variety, using cured fish to add flavor to recipes is common throughout Asia – think fish sauce, salt fish, and Chinese dried anchovies. So while we can’t claim that this is a traditional Chinese long beans recipe, we promise you that it is very delicious! These Chinese long beans are a wonderful side dish, and if you’re looking to pair them up to make an entire meal, here are some delicious serving options:
For the main course, try our hoisin chicken drumsticks or this coconut orange poached salmon For a filling side, our pineapple fried rice and ginger rice both go very well. And some matcha ice cream will finish the dinner off on point!
Did you make this?
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