Fine French beans with sesame dressing
Posted in 30-minutes recipe, beans, Chinese, Featured Articles, Japanese, Vegetarian
Sesame seeds are my favourite kitchen condiment, be it white or black. I love to use them in both my cooking and baking for their flavourful aroma. Besides, their tiny size and contrasting colours give an elegant touch to any simple dish. So, for sure, any recipe with sesame seeds as an ingredient would catch my attention, just like this popular Japanese home-style dish that I learnt from Ju of Little Teochew. It calls for black sesame seeds to be toasted and grinded lightly to bring out the extra flavour. When mixed with seasonings, it forms a wonderful dressing for the blanched beans to give a light and healthy dish. Captivated by her strong recommendation and fabulous shots, I was convinced that this is a must-try recipe. She further pointed out that the recipe was a creation of “Martha Stewart of Japan” Harumi Kurihara, a celebrity homemaker and television personality in Japan. That’s also how I got introduced to the delightful world of Japanese cuisine. Thanks Ju!
Since then, I became increasingly eager to learn more about Harumi’s recipes. I started off by first going to the library to search for her cookbooks. I managed to borrow one among her many published titles – “Harumi’s Japanese Cooking” which features plenty of easy to prepare meals. This cookbook was awarded “Best Cookbook of the Year” by Gourmand World Cookbooks Awards in 2004. The recipe I posted today is adapted from it. I gave a little tweak to the recipe to suit my liking, in which I substituted green beans with fine French beans for extra crunchiness. I also added a little bit of white sesame seeds to help me judge the stage of the toasted sesame seeds better as it’s impossible to do so with black sesame seeds and avoid having burnt seeds.
I made this dish for my mother in law’s to sample during her recent visit. I was a bit worried of her response as she usually avoided eating anything with sesame seeds as she found them irritating and hurtful given that they often get lodged in between her denture and gum. Being mindful of her aversion, I used food processor to grind the toasted seeds more finely before mixing them with seasonings in a bowl to get a smoother paste. I made the dressing in advance and store them in the refrigerator. I couldn’t believe that she fall for this dish at her first bite. She was so impressed by how quickly I prepared this dish. Now she can’t wait to try it out this recipe herself when she returns home. She totally agrees that it is a great way to incorporate seeds in her diet.
I’m so happy to find a new way of enjoying fine French beans and black sesame seeds. My son loves this sesame dressing so much that he even licked his bowl clean. All said, I felt encouraged to make this dish more often in future.
>>> Click on PAGE 2 BELOW for Fine French Beans with Sesame Dressing and step by step photos…………
It always amazes me how something as tiny as sesame seeds can yield so much flavor but they really do! I love the idea of using them to spruce up some green beans. Delicious.
Joanne: Yeah, they are incredibly delicious and pair well with fine French beans! 😉
I have 2 Harumi books but had been underusing them! I like this dish too, it’s also nice eaten cold like a salad.
KY: Oh yeah, it can be served as salad too. 😉
Hmm,I think I’d like this!
Mel: Thanks! Glad that you like it! 😉
I always have sesame seeds in my pantry. Great flavours and good for granishing =)
Pigpigscorner: I totally agreed! 😉
I’ve been making this for years after learning of it in a small Japanese cooking class that was offered through the local Parks & Rec. Always a crowd pleaser. I usually find that when the black sesame seeds are popping like firecrackers, they’re ready. I grind mine by hand in a Suribachi and usually add instant HonDashi for a yummy, tangy zip.
Julie: Thanks for sharing. I just bought one Suribachi from Daiso lately. Will put it to use soon. 😉
That’s a nice simple dish! And I like that you can make the dressing in advance.
Tigerfish: Thanks! The cold dressing is very appetizing! 😉
Thanks for your kind mention, LK. You made a lovely version and your shots put mine to shame!
Ju: You deserve the mention. You’re too humble!! 😉
this looks good! I’ll do this!
Peachkins: Oh, that’s great! Hope you willl enjoy this dish as much as we do. 😉
Previously I wonder where can I get the supply of sesame seeds, but now I found it in a local supermarket. 😛
Well, I will try to make some once I got a bottle of mirin and some sesame seeds. 🙂
Love your shots on raw French beans.
Little Inbox: Besides supermarket, I think you can find it in shops selling dried good or Chinese medicine shops. Do share with me your feedback yeah. Thanks for your compliment. 😉
Great combo, these are the two simple ingredients I loved most.
Anncoo: Thanks! Give it a try! 😉
mmmm…that’s simple, healthy and delicious. I love French beans. I can eat a big bowl 😀
Mary Moh: Yup, you said it all! Glad you like it. 😉
This is fantastic, healthy and simple dish for the whole family. 🙂
Alice: Yes, it is definitely a great family dish. Do try it out. 😉
What a healthy dish! I need to go buy myself a bottle of mirin soon.
Ching: Thanks! Mirin is really a great cooking wine. You won’t regret buying it. 😉
This is an interesting combo…Would love to try it…:)
FoodieAnn: Thanks! Looking forward to hearing your feeback. 😉
Simple and healthy looking, I can’t resist but say yes I want!!
Lee Mei: Thanks! We can’t resist too. 😉
Interesting way of cooking the beans. 🙂
Dora: Yes, it’s hassle-free too! 😉
You’ve made a simple French beans dish looks so yummy!
KidsDreamWork: Thanks! Do give it a try! 😉
Our whole family is a big fan of green beans. Love your way of dressing them with black sesame seeds, very fragrant.
Christine: Thanks! We also like green beans but even eat more now with this sesame dressing. 😉
I like Japanese cooking. It’s good idea to add to my boy lunchbox. But I have more whites than black. Does it make the dish taste differently using white sesame?
Evelyn: Yes, the end results will definite vary. I had tried to subsitute 20% with white sesame seeds before but the taste was not to my liking. You may experiment it at your end and compare both. Do share with me your feedback after trying it out. Thanks! 😉
wow! looks really great. I’m a fan of Harumi’s cookbooks too. Your photos are so gorgeous like usual 🙂
Noobcook: Thanks!! You’re so kind with words. 😉
Love this, I like her cookbooks too and your french beans look so yummy 🙂
Jen (TOH): Thanks!! 😉
We can also replace mirin with two parts cooking sake (aka rice wine) + one part sugar 🙂
Po: Thanks for your kind sharing. 😉