French bean isn’t long bean, eventhough their colours and shapes are similar, but the length and texture of these beans are in great difference. Frence bean is much shorter than long bean, and french bean tastes more crunchy while long bean is softer than the other, after cooked. French bean looks smoother and thicker on its skin while long bean looks more ‘wrinkled’ and thiner than the other.
I love both beans, but for different kind of cooking and recipes. I like to cook long bean with either sambal chili, or chop and mix it in the eggs to make an omelette with long beans. As for french bean, my favourite recipe, of course, is this one!
Simple & fast cooking method with great taste!
Ingredients
Handful of french beans, trimmed and cut into 2″ long, crosswise
4 large fish balls, sliced
8 – 10 medium prawn, shelled, cut a deep slit and devained
1 teaspoon of light soy sauce (to season the prawns)
1 teaspoon of Hua Diao rice wine (花雕酒)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Sprinkles of sugar (much less than ½ teaspoon)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
⅓ small cup of water
Method
1) Season prawns with light soy sauce for at least 10 minutes. Set aside. Heat wok with oil over medium-high fire. Add garlic, and stir-fry for 1 minute till fragrant.
2) Place french beans into wok, and add water to create sizzling effect. Sprinkle sugar, and stir-fry for 3 minutes, or until french beans turn from light green to bright dark green in colour.
3) Add in sliced fish balls, and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add salt and pepper, mix well with the ingredients. Reduce heat to medium-low fire. Cover wok with lid to simmer the ingredients for 1-2 minutes.
4) Add prawns, and sprinkle Hua Diao rice wine. Stir-fry for 3 minutes till prawns are pinked and lightly curled. Heat off, and serve.
With less than 15 minutes preparation and cooking time, you will get this healthy and tasty vegetables dish served for your dinner.
This french bean dish counts less than 150kcal for a decent portion. You may considered it as low-fat dish, but moderate in nutrients since it has the greens and two kinds of meat/ seafood.
Tips: Simmer the french beans for a couple of minutes if you find the french beans are still too raw (if you wish to totally eliminate the greenish taste), but do not over cook the french beans till too ‘old’ (soft). To retain slight crunchiness of the french beans gives better taste and texture in the palate.
* Sprinkle some sugar when first added french bean in the wok to enhance its bright green colour.