String Beans
String beans are one of my favorite vegetables, and this is my go-to preparation. It's simple, easy, and absolutely delicious. It's amazing how far you can go with just three flavoring ingredients: garlic, soy sauce, and 老干妈.
Active Time: 15 min
Total Time: 20 min
Ingredients
> string beans
> garlic
> oil, soy sauce, 老干妈
Instructions
1. Trim off the ends of the string beans and cut into manageable length pieces.
2. Heat neutral oil in a wok over high heat. Once oil is hot, dump in the string beans and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
3. Add some water and cover. Let cook until the water is almost completely evaporated and the string beans are almost perfectly cooked, about 10 minutes.
4. Peel and finely chop several cloves of garlic. Remove lid, place into wok and continue to stir fry for a few minutes.
5. Add a heaping spoonful of 老干妈 and some soy sauce to taste. Continue to stir-fry for about 20 seconds, then serve and enjoy.
Notes/Tips:
> String beans typically have a long, thin fibrous section running down the bean lengthwise. When trimming off the ends of the string beans, try to remove as much of the fibrous section as well. It takes some practice to get used to the exact hand motion.
> I prefer my string beans to have relatively small beans and relatively little fibrous material down the sides -- this gives a nice, tender texture.
> Add just enough water such that the water almost fully evaporates once the green beans are at the right doneness. This is an inexact science and depends a lot on the amount of string beans you're making, your wok, and the power of your burners. I typically go for around 1-1.5 cups for a 34 cm wok and 1 pound of string beans.