Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dry-Fried Green Beans 乾煸四季豆



This Sichuanese export is so delicious that you are able to order it from any Chinese restaurants these days. Despite being one of my favourite dishes, I seldom order this when I dine out as I find the deep frying process used in restaurants makes the dish too oily and lacks the smokiness it should possess. Nevertheless, this is an extremely easy dish to prepare at home. Omit the pork for a vegetarian version and it will still be very tasty.
P.S For vegetarian version saute a tbs each of chopped garlic, chili and ginger before adding the beans.
Adapted from Fuchsia Dunlop's Sichuan Cookery


serves 4 as part of a Sichuanese/Chinese meal
you'll need;
1 kg of french beans
100 g of minced pork
50 g of yachai or Sichuan preserved vegetable
3 spring onions, chopped
dash of soy
dash of Chinese cooking wine
dash of sesame oil
peanut oil

This is what yachai looks like.

Dry-fry beans in batches with a little oil til wilted and a little charred.

They should look something like this :)

In a smoking hot wok, brown minced pork with a little oil.

Next add the yachai and beans, fry for a minute then add soy and Chinese cooking wine and spring onions. Continue to fry for a minute or two, check for seasonings. Drizzle a little sesame oil before serving

I served this as part of a Sichuanese meal together with fish fragrant eggplants.

46 comments:

  1. Wow I just finished typing the last comment lol
    How on earth you know this is my request? :) Big kiss
    Sophia xxx

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  2. This looks appetizing. I like experimenting with different flavors. Will have to try!

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  3. Never heard of yachai...this dish looks delicious and pretty healthy.

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  4. I love French beans and this is definitely delicious.
    I have posted stir fried French bean with minced pork, quite similar to yours.

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  5. I can see there is a lot 鍋氣 going on!! Looks so restaurant-like! Well-done!

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  6. yes !!
    this is something that adapting to my vegan lifestyle i can use and enjoy a lot .
    GREAT !! thank you !!

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  7. I was looking for a fried beans recipe.This sounds different.Will try this with minced beef as I wont use pork.Thanks for sharing!!

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  8. This is a dish loaded with flavours!
    I had some green beans for the dinner, but just a simple stir-fry.

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  9. I have green beans in my fridge and was desperately searching for something to do with them... This is perfect! I'll be having a veggie version of this with my dinner tonight thanks to you! Cheers!

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  10. love this one...would work well with my hubby's tastebuds...

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  11. I love sesame oil and veggies!
    great pics , as usual! (jealous!!)
    Betty xx

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  12. I love taking the green beans at my favorite Chinese buffets. I should give this recipe a try.

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  13. The beans and the pork look great. Very colorful too. I guess I can substitute lean turkey instead of port and end up with an equally delicious dish.

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  14. wow..a great combo and different too :)

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  15. Oh, YUM! I love green beans and your dish looks amazingly delicious! The recipe also sounds simple, I'll definitely give it a try.

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  16. This is the first time I have been to your blog and have not felt like eating one of your dishes. I don't know what planet "Bo" is on but that yachi does not look appetizing at all. I'm sure it is really healthy but....

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  17. It looks like a great, healthy recipe! I love green beans.

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  18. Sophia darling,
    Haha this must be your lucky day! :) xxx

    Paul,
    Thank you and please do!

    Bo,
    It is a type of preserved vegetables, add lots of flavours to a dish!

    Anncoo ,
    Thank you! I'll have a look :)

    Pei-Lin@Dodol and Mochi,
    Thank you very much! The dry-frying gave it the effect!

    Caio Fernandes,
    I'm glad to hear that, you should have a look at the egglant dish too!

    shahana ,
    Thank you! I tasted the beef version cooked by my Chinese muslim friend, delicious too!

    Angie,
    Thank you!
    A simple stir fry is delicious too!

    Sanjana ,
    Thank you! The veggie version is delicious too!

    Cicily,
    Thank you and please make some for him!

    Betty,
    Oh thank you xxx

    Michael,
    Thank you! give it a go!

    Cool Lassi(e),
    Thank you! I am sure turkey will work well too :)

    Neetz ,
    Thank you :)

    kothiyavunu ,
    Thank you! Please do and let me know :)

    Alex,
    Haha i might not very appetizing but it is full of flavours. I'll make this for you when you visit lol

    Sook,
    Thank you, the original version it is relatively healthy but often restaurants deep fry the beans :(

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  19. Wow, this is one of my favorite dishes when we go for Chinese food, and yours look absolutely delicious...the beans sure look crispy!

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  20. Harriet from CarltonFebruary 23, 2010 at 9:09 AM

    A family favourite! Thank you! :)

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  21. One of my fave Sichuan dishes. You're slowly cooking your way through my regular order at my fave Sichuan restaurant ! The magic ingredient is definitely the yachai.

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  22. Delicious preparation of green beans with minced pork & sesame oil!

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  23. Beautiful! I think I might try this one!

    I'm always on the look out for new veg recipes :D

    www.brisbanebaker.blogspot.com

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  24. hmm ive never tried deep frying green beans b4...it looks good...like bbq-ed....must gv it atry !^^

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  25. Mmmmmmm, you churn out such fabulous food on a regular basis. I get hungry everytime I visit! My local Chinese place does a great variation on this using XO sauce and dried prawns, bit salty but very moreish.

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  26. hey that looks really good and healthy! my mum makes this without the yachai. its so good with soy sauce and a hot bowl of jasmine rice :)

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  27. I have tried another recipe that deep fry rather than dry fry , this looks good and so much healthier!

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  28. Another dish that my grandma used to cook all the time. I haven't been able to find yachai anyway, which shop did you get it from?
    The photos are great as usual :)

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  29. I always order this at our favorite chinese restaurant. I've always wonder how they got it to shrivel up! Thanks for this!

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  30. 另一道經典菜!你太棒了!

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  31. Mr Noodles,
    Haha very slowly lol,
    Yachai is very important in this dish I agree!

    5 Star Foodie ,
    Thank you! It is very addictive too!

    Brisbane Baker,
    Thank you! :)

    Janice ,
    Thank you!

    zurin,
    Haha it is a little bit like bbq :)

    Shaz,
    Thank you :) I sometimes stir fry with X.O sauce too, will post my homemade X.O sauce soon.

    Ann,
    I am very happy eating this all the time too :)

    Tricia,
    Do try this, it is rather healthy!

    Shanshan,
    Thank you! I normally get it from the large shop situated at the corner of Nicholson and Victoria street, opposite the construction site.

    Lele,
    Haha you are welcome!

    大肥,
    謝謝!不敢當,跟食譜而已:)

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  32. Oh you are doing all the classics this week :) I don't like the deep fried version too, must try to find some yachai! Looks very good!

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  33. 这是一道我们家的家常菜....SIMPLE AND GOOD

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  34. Great work tummy! I must try to get some yachai soon. I was looking for the cookbook today but they only have the Hunanese cooking, placed an order though! :)

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  35. Yes...my great favourite! I love it. I always dry fry it with more oil until it's soft and a little burnt....yum! Just this dish is enough to make me happy :D

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  36. There are 2 dishes in Szechuan cuisine that I like - one is Hot and Sour soup, the other is THIS!

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  37. That looks totally yum. I just had lunch but I feel I have enough space to accommodate some of those dried fried green beans....

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  38. love to eat,
    Haha a bit like that since it is easy and I don't need to think too much about food :)
    You must and get a few packets as they are only cheap.

    Pearlyn,
    Same with us :) 謝謝!

    CW,
    Yeah stock them up :) I'm glad you are getting the book, You'll get so much use out of it!

    Mary,
    Haha Same here I'm very happy eating this all the time.

    tigerfish,
    Haha hot and sour soup in my next soup installment :)

    Destiny's child,
    Oh! This is quite healthy so I bet you can manage :)

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  39. We order this all the time, you are right about being very oily due to the deep frying. Do you mind getting me some yachai?

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  40. I normally have this with white porridge or steamed 'man tou'. Lovely pics!

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  41. ฉัน เคย สั่ง นี้ ได้ ที่ ร้าน อาหาร จีน!

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  42. This is a yummy dish! It even better if you can try this with baby green beans/french beans.

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  43. Hey buddy,
    I've got you some, will bring it over soon!

    Cheah,
    Thank you! It would go down very well with porridge :)

    Muu,
    ที่ ดี! ขอบคุณ!

    My little space,
    Thank you! It is rather hard to get baby beans or they are too expensive here :(

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  44. Haha like most people here I order this every time I visit my favourite Chinese joint. Great job here!

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