Steamed green beans covered in a creamy sesame sauce. This green bean goma-ae is the tastiest way to get in your greens. Just 4 ingredients and ready in no time!
This green bean goma-ae is the perfect healthy Japanese side dish. (Goma means sesame in Japanese.) It’s creamy, salty, slightly sweet, and makes anything you put it on absolutely addicting. My boyfriend ate the entire bowl in one sitting, and he eats fast so I only got a little nibble before it was all gone. But the good news is that it comes together in about 15 minutes!
Ingredients
Just 4 ingredients are required to make this nutty green bean dish:
- green beans
- ground toasted sesame seeds ⟶ Japanese markets carry surigoma (ground toasted sesame seeds), but you can easily grind your own at home. If you only have whole sesame seeds and don’t have the ability to grind them, I’ve also used tahini + whole toasted sesame seeds.
- sugar and soy sauce (or tamari)
How to Make
It’s super simple. Just combine all the sauce ingredients, pour over steamed green beans, and mix! I love this dish served cold, but it can also be eaten warm if you don’t have enough time to wait for the green beans to cool.
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Green Bean Goma-ae
Goma-ae is pretty hard to mess up, but here are a few tips to keep in mind to achieve perfect green bean goma-ae every time.
- When boiling the green beans, adding a little salt to the water will help preserve the green color and also add a little bit of flavor.
- Make sure to use toasted sesame seeds, as these impart a lovely nutty flavor distinctive of this dish. I even like to lightly toast store-bought toasted sesame seeds a second time, to bring out the nutty flavor more.
- In lieu of ground toasted sesame seeds, I sometimes use tahini + whole toasted sesame seeds (not traditional but works in a pinch).
More Easy Japanese Sides!
- Tataki Kyuri (Japanese Smashed Cucumbers)
- Kinpira Gobo (braised burdock root)
- Miso Glazed Eggplant
- Nasu Dengaku (Japanese Miso Eggplant)
- Sesame Miso Roasted Potatoes
- Broccoli Goma-ae
- Spicy Bean Sprout Miso Soup
If you try out this green bean goma-ae, don’t forget to tag me in your photos on instagram @ellielikes.cooking, leave a comment down below and let me know how you liked it! I love seeing all of your tasty recreations 🙂 Happy cooking!
Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae) | インゲン豆の胡麻和え
Ingredients
- ½ lb green beans, trimmed
- 3 tbsp ground toasted sesame seeds
- 1 ½ tsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 2-3 tsp water
Instructions
- Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook 3-5 minutes until crisp-tender.
- Meanwhile, mix sesame seeds, sugar, and soy sauce in a bowl. Add a couple teaspoons of water to thin out the sauce.
- Drain green beans and rinse under cold water to prevent further cooking. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
- Add green beans to the sauce and toss until well combined.
Video
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