Asian style sesame green bean salad (+ bonus recipe for gomasio)

Crunchy sesame seeds and a sweet, spicy Asian-inspired dressing give this delicious green bean salad the wow factor! Simple and delicious, this healthy dish is packed with vitamins and minerals.

Do you ever become obsessed with a new ingredient and use it in everything? Or go through phases when a single favoured food pops up in everything you cook? I seem to be in the middle of a sesame seed fixation. I’ve been sprinkling these little beauties here, there and everywhere.

Green bean salad

It’s not like sesame seeds are new or unusual. These tiny seeds are long-term residents of my pantry. They typically come out to be sprinkled over challah, bourekas, or other savoury pies and pastries before baking. However recently they’ve also started to make their way into stir-fries, soup-toppings, snack mixes, and salads too. Like this delicious green bean salad with its lip-smacking sweet-savoury-spicy sesame dressing.

Super simple green bean salad

I usually serve green beans simply steamed, perhaps with a little butter. But taking just a few minutes to add a zingy dressing and a sprinkle of seeds is totally worth the effort! This green bean salad makes an otherwise everyday veg into something really special.

Nutritional giants!

There are plenty worse things to become hooked on, I’m sure! Sesame seeds are tiny powerhouses of nutrition. They are packed with healthy oils as well as several B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.

Pairing them with crisp green beans that are rich in fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate, means this delicious salad not only tastes good, it does you good, too!

Green bean salad ingredients

The dressing for this salad is quick and simple, and takes hardly any time at all to make. To whip up a dish of these delicious green beans, all you will need is:

• sesame oil
• soy sauce – I used tamari but any soy sauce is fine
• white wine vinegar – or use any ‘clear’ vinegar
• maple syrup
• sriracha – or you can use the chili sauce of your choice, but be careful not to overdo the heat!
• sesame seeds – can’t make sesame green beans without them!
• green beans – of course!

You can mix up the dressing while the beans are cooking and the whole thing can be ready in 10 minutes or less!

What is gomasio?

As well as cooking with sesame seeds, I’ve also rediscovered gomasio. 

Gomasio is a Japanese condiment sometimes called ‘sesame salt’. I first discovered it in Israel years ago. It’s very simple to make and adds a blast of savoury flavour to everything from plain rice – which is how it’s traditionally eaten – to salads, soups and eggs. 

How to make gomasio

To make gomasio, simply mix 4-5 teaspoon sesame seeds (black, regular, or a mixture) with ½ teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoon water. The mixture will clump together. Fry it in a small pan, stirring constantly, until the seeds are lightly toasted, the water is evaporated, and the salt residue coats the seeds. You can use the gomasio like this, or grind it in a mortar and pestle to release some of the fragrant oils and give a more interesting texture. 

Keep your gomasio in an airtight container. Use it within a few days as the oils will oxidise and it will develop an ‘off’ taste if left for too long. 

I don’t know how long my sesame obsession will last, but I’m enjoying it while it does!

Green bean salad serves 2-4.

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Sesame green bean salad

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Crunchy sesame seeds and a sweet, spicy Asian-inspired dressing give this delicious green bean salad the wow factor! Simple and delicious, this healthy dish is packed with vitamins and minerals.

5 from 6 votes

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Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Asian, Vegan

Servings 4

Calories 97 kcal

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

• 200 g fine green beans (approximately 1½-2 cups)

For the dressing

• 2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoon tamari (soy) sauce
• 2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon sriracha or other chili sauce or add to taste
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 3-4 teaspoon white or black sesame seeds, or a mix

Instructions

 

• Trim the beans. Blanch in boiling water or cook in a microwave for 1-2 minutes until crisp-tender. Plunge into cold water.
• Whisk together all the dressing ingredients except the sesame seeds, and pour over the beans. Add the sesame seeds and gently mix everything together.
• Serve cold, with any excess dressing on the side.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sesame green bean salad

Amount per Serving

Calories

97

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

8

g

12

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Sodium

 

519

mg

23

%

Potassium

 

137

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

 

6

g

2

%

Fiber

 

2

g

8

%

Sugar

 

3

g

3

%

Protein

 

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

 

346

IU

7

%

Vitamin C

 

6

mg

7

%

Calcium

 

37

mg

4

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword beans, maple syrup, sesame oil

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More fresh and delicious salad recipes

If you’d like more delicious salad recipes, how about this roasted vegetable and barley salad with tahini dressing, this crunchy red cabbage slaw, or this vibrant blood orange salad with avocado, radish and dill?  

Feeling the Asian vibe? Try this crispy salt and pepper tofu, or this yummy fish curry.