Green Bean & Pepper Stir Fry

I chose to plant green bush beans in the garden this year without considering how much I actually liked fresh green beans.

Truth be told, I wasn’t much of a fan. Growing up, most of the green beans I had came from a can, lathered in butter and bacon. On the rare occasion I was given fresh green beans (likely at my grandma’s house), they were border line raw. No seasoning, just lightly steamed or blanched with quite a bit of crunch left. I hated them.

I was delighted to see my bush beans thrive in containers this year. But after the excitement of picking the beans wore off, I realized I actually had to eat them.

For this, I turned to my most trusted cooking resource, “The Sauce”. The Sauce, as I call it, is basic stir fry seasoning. It’s sweet and savory, has three ingredients, and tastes good on everything. Even green beans.

We paired this recipe alongside some grilled pork chops and mashed potatoes. Honestly, it was great. The green beans had a hint of sweet, which complimented the salty mashed potatoes and savory pork chops really well. But even on their own, the green beans were delicious. I kept going back to the pan to sneak extra bites!

I’m a green bean convert now and can’t wait to pick my next batch.

Green Bean & Pepper Stir Fry Recipe

Takes 15 - 20 minutes to prepare

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup of chopped green beans, 1 inch in length
• 1/2 cup diced sweet peppers
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp honey (or agave nectar)
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 4 Tbsp water

Directions:

1. Heat the sesame oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Once hot, throw in the minced garlic. Cook until fragrant or the garlic starts to brown, about 30 - 60 seconds.
2. Throw in the green beans, onion, and sweet peppers, and toss to coat them in oil. Cover and let cook for five minutes.
3. While the green beans are cooking, assemble the sauce. Combine the rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and water in a bowl and whisk until the honey is completely mixed in with the other liquids.
4. After the green beans have cooked for five minutes, remove the lid and stir. Cook for another 2 -3 minutes, then add the sauce.
5. Stir to coat everything in the sauce. Let the green beans and sauce cook for another 4 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove them from the heat and enjoy!