Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Crispy Sesame Topping
By Andrew JanjigianPublished on July 5, 2018
Time
45 minutes
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Before You Begin
If your green beans are thin and tender, microwave them for 6 to 8 minutes; microwave thicker, tougher green beans for 10 to 12 minutes. To make the beans without a microwave, bring ¼ cup of water to a boil in a skillet over high heat. Add the beans, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the beans to a bowl and wash the skillet before proceeding with the recipe. Korean red pepper flakes, called gochugaru, can also be sold as “Korean chili powder.”
Instructions
- Process sesame seeds, panko, and peppercorns in spice grinder or mortar and pestle until uniformly ground to medium-fine consistency that resembles couscous. Transfer sesame mixture to 12-inch nonstick skillet, add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, and stir to combine. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; add pepper flakes, sesame oil, salt, and orange zest; and stir to combine. Transfer sesame mixture to bowl and set aside. Wash out skillet thoroughly and dry with paper towels.
- Rinse green beans but do not dry. Place in medium bowl, cover, and microwave until tender, 6 to 12 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Using tongs, transfer green beans to paper towel–lined plate and let drain.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add green beans in single layer. Cook, without stirring, until green beans begin to blister and char, 4 to 5 minutes. Toss green beans and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until green beans are softened and charred, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Using tongs, transfer green beans to serving bowl, leaving any excess oil in skillet. Sprinkle with scallions and sesame mixture and serve.
Time
45 minutesYield
Serves 4Ingredients
Ingredients
Ingredients
Why This Recipe Works
Deep-frying green beans evenly softens and blisters them, leaving them with a soft, appealingly dense, satisfying chew and concentrated flavor. To achieve those results without the hassle of frying, we first softened the beans by steaming them in the microwave. Then we charred them in a skillet with just a couple tablespoons of hot oil. We didn't stir the beans for the first few minutes so that they developed deep color and flavor on one side; then we tossed them in the pan so that they blistered all over. Once they were charred, we topped them with sesame seeds and toasted panko bread crumbs that we'd seasoned with Sichuan peppercorns, sesame oil, and orange.
Before You Begin
If your green beans are thin and tender, microwave them for 6 to 8 minutes; microwave thicker, tougher green beans for 10 to 12 minutes. To make the beans without a microwave, bring ¼ cup of water to a boil in a skillet over high heat. Add the beans, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the beans to a bowl and wash the skillet before proceeding with the recipe. Korean red pepper flakes, called gochugaru, can also be sold as “Korean chili powder.”
Instructions
- Process sesame seeds, panko, and peppercorns in spice grinder or mortar and pestle until uniformly ground to medium-fine consistency that resembles couscous. Transfer sesame mixture to 12-inch nonstick skillet, add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, and stir to combine. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; add pepper flakes, sesame oil, salt, and orange zest; and stir to combine. Transfer sesame mixture to bowl and set aside. Wash out skillet thoroughly and dry with paper towels.
- Rinse green beans but do not dry. Place in medium bowl, cover, and microwave until tender, 6 to 12 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Using tongs, transfer green beans to paper towel–lined plate and let drain.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add green beans in single layer. Cook, without stirring, until green beans begin to blister and char, 4 to 5 minutes. Toss green beans and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until green beans are softened and charred, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Using tongs, transfer green beans to serving bowl, leaving any excess oil in skillet. Sprinkle with scallions and sesame mixture and serve.
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