The Easy Umami Upgrade To Cook More Flavorful Green Beans

Luna Regina
·3 min read
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A plate of sautéed green beans
A plate of sautéed green beans - Haoliang/Getty Images

Green beans often play an in-between role in most dishes -- too ordinary to be the star, but too essential a companion to forego. What happens when you want to make it more enjoyable? How else can we make this familiar, rustic legume interesting enough that it becomes a stand-out dish? One of many easy umami upgrades for green beans lies in the condiments, or more specifically, a combination of soy sauce and hoisin sauce. It may not sound like anything special at first, but this Asian staple duo is the key to unlocking green beans' hidden potential.

Both hoisin sauce and soy sauce are renowned for their umami tone, but each offers a distinct taste. Hoisin sauce is rich, tangy, and sweet while soy sauce emphasizes more on the salty and savory side. Coming together, they offer a diverse yet balanced depth of flavors that brings dimension to just about anything. This intricate mix beautifully enhances the green beans' natural earthy taste while also layering them with complexity.

As a fun bonus, this saucy mix also coats your green beans in a luscious, glossy exterior. Each bite is filled with tender-crisp goodness and silky smoothness, working in perfect tandem with the umami twist to make the green beans a true delight for the taste buds. A textural elevation is often understated, but it improves the eating experience tenfold.

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A Game-Changing Upgrade For Your Green Beans

Two dipping sauces in dipping bowls
Two dipping sauces in dipping bowls - Ostancov Vladislav/Shutterstock

Hoisin sauce and soy sauce are often joined by minced garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and your other preferred seasonings. Sprinkle in some pepper flakes if you'd like a hint of spice to cut through all that richness. Or, you can go for brown sugar or honey for a highlighted sweetness. Oyster sauce would also make a fantastic addition if you want to intensify the overall umami factor. For an even more unique twist, take a page out of Thai cuisine and throw in a bit of peanut butter.

This mixture then turns into a sauce that gets stir-fried or simmered along with the cooked green beans for a few minutes. Give the legume a char while you're at it for a nutty undertone. Once done, just take it off the heat and garnish it with sesame seeds, cilantro, or toasted peanuts. If you have the time, quickly caramelize shallots for a more well-rounded flavor profile. It's an easy dish that comes together in less than 15 minutes.

Coated in a burst of exquisite flavors, your green beans are ready to serve both as a main and a side dish. Lay it over white rice alongside some proteins (if you want) and you've got a simple, easy dinner. As a side dish, it makes a great companion for all your Asian dishes. Whether it's fried rice, noodles, stir-fries, or other dishes, these umami-laden green beans are always perfectly complementary.

Read the original article on Tasting Table