Green Beans Gomaae is just as popular in Japan as Spinach Gomaae, which I shared earlier. It is quick and easy to make, and its slightly sweet and salty flavor is my favorite. The crunchiness of the green beans pairs perfectly with the gomaae.
Jump to:
What is Green Beans Gomaae?
Green beans gomaae is a traditional Japanese cold dish made with green beans and sesame sauce. Goma means sesame seeds, and ae is to toss seasonings, so Gomaae refers to tossing with sesame sauce. This dish is easy to prepare since all you have to do is boil the green beans, cool them, and toss them in the sesame sauce.
It is a healthy dish that allows you to enjoy the nutritional benefits of both green beans and sesame seeds. The green beans have a crunchy texture, which adds to the overall satisfaction of the dish.
Vegetables used for gomaae
The sesame sauce used for gomaae can be easily prepared by mixing ground sesame seeds, sugar and soy sauce. It can be tossed with a variety of vegetables.
Green beans are a popular choice, and this sauce is also commonly used with spinach, broccoli, and carrots. If you enjoy this recipe, try using it to make gomaae dish with your favorite vegetables.
Read about “Spinach Gomaae” here.
Making toasted ground sesame seeds?
In Japanese grocery stores, toasted and ground sesame seeds are commonly sold instead of raw sesame seeds. How about in your neighborhood? If you can only get raw sesame seeds, you will need to toast and grind them yourself to make gomaae. In that case, it will take a little more time and effort, but you can enjoy the aroma of freshly toasted sesame seeds.
When toasting sesame seeds, never use a non-stick coated pan or pot. Sesame seeds are so small that heating them in such a pan is almost like heating them without any ingredients, which can cause the production of harmful substances.
Cooking utensils
To grind sesame seeds, you will need to use a mortar and pestle. Do you have one? If not, you can use a food processor instead.
If you find this process to be too much trouble, you may want to consider buying commercially toasted and ground sesame seeds.
Health benefits of sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are a healthy food that you should actively include in your daily diet. They contain sesame lignans, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, iron, and magnesium, all packed into a single seed. These nutrients can help lower bad cholesterol, improve liver function, and promote a more youthful body.
Therefore, gomaae is an ideal way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of sesame seeds in a delicious way.
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz. (100g) green beans
- 1 ½ Tbsp (ground) sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Step-by-step instructions
🕒 Total 20 mins
If you have ground sesame seeds, start from step 3.
If you are using toasted sesame seeds that have not been ground, you can start from step 2.
Step 1
Put the sesame seeds in a pan or pot and toast them over very low heat. Shake the pan (pot) constantly to prevent burning until a few sesame seeds start to pop. If you are toasting raw sesame seeds, it should take about 5 minutes. If you are re-toasting previously toasted sesame seeds, it should take about 2 minutes.
Step 2
Grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle. If you don't have one, use a food processor.
Step 3
Snap off the ends of the green beans and remove the string that runs along the seam.
Step 4
Mix the ground sesame seeds, sugar and soy sauce in a large bowl.
Step 5
Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once it's boiling, add salt (about 1% of the water, not included in recipe), stir, and add the green beans. Continue boiling for 2 minutes.
Step 6
Remove the green beans from the pot and cool them under running water.
Step 7
Pat the green beans thoroughly with paper towels and cut into 3 equal pieces.
Step 8
Toss the green beans with the sesame sauce in the bowl.
To Store
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Tips on how to make
- When toasting sesame seeds, keep the pan on low heat and shake it constantly. This will prevent the sesame seeds from burning.
- Boil the green beans in salted water. Adding salt helps prevent the green beans from losing their vibrant color.
- Toss the green beans just before serving. Gomaae has salt content from the soy sauce, which will release its water content over time after the green beans are tossed.
Recipe Card
Green Bean Gomaae (Seasoned with Sesame Sauce)
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz. (100g) green beans
- 1 ½ Tbsp (ground) sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Put the sesame seeds in a pot and toast over very low heat, shaking the pot (pot) constantly to prevent the sesame seeds from burning, until a few sesame seeds start popping. If you are toasting raw sesame seeds, about 5 minutes; if you are re-toasting toasted sesame seeds again, about 2 minutes.
- Grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle. If you don't have one, use a food processor.
- Snap off the ends of the green beans and remove the string that runs along the seam.
- Mix the ground sesame seeds, sugar and soy sauce in a large bowl.
- Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once it's boiling, add salt (about 1% of the water, not included in recipe), stir, and add the green beans. Continue boiling for 2 minutes.
- Remove the green beans from the pot and cool them under running water.
- Pat the green beans thoroughly with paper towels and cut into 3 equal pieces.
- Toss the green beans with the sesame sauce in the bowl.
Notes
- If you have ground sesame seeds, start from step 3.
- If you are using toasted sesame seeds that have not been ground, you can start from step 2.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Leave a Reply