This Japanese green bean salad recipe (gomaae green beans) has a nutty-sweet sesame dressing and crisp-tender beans. It’s vegan, quick and easy to make, and ideal as a summer side dish or light snack with just 5 simple ingredients!
What is gomaae?
Gomaae is a Japanese side dish made by tossing vegetables in a sweet and savory sesame dressing. The name means sesame sauce in Japanese. It’s commonly made with green beans, spinach, or other greens and served chilled or at room temperature as a quick, healthy side.
🥗 Ingredient tips & substitutes
- Green beans Use fresh, crisp green beans for the best texture; avoid frozen or canned, which may turn mushy after blanching.
- Sesame seeds Toast white sesame seeds until golden and fragrant before grinding for deeper flavor. Black sesame seeds can be used as an alternative.
- Soy sauce Use regular Japanese soy sauce; tamari works if you need it gluten-free.
- Sugar Just a small amount adds balance to the savory sesame dressing.
- Neutral oil Optional and not traditional, but it helps the dressing coat the beans more smoothly.
Do you need a Japanese mortar and pestle?
In traditional Japanese cooking, sesame seeds for gomaae are ground using a Japanese mortar and pestle, known as a suribachi and surikogi. The mortar is typically ceramic with fine ridges inside, designed to grip the seeds and help release their oils as you grind.
I found one at a secondhand shop here in Thailand and was so excited to try it. But it turned out to be disappointing. The grooves were probably worn down from use, and it took so long to break down the sesame seeds.
In my experience, it’s much easier to use a Thai-style clay, wooden, or stone mortar and pestle.
So, unless you’re specifically going for Japanese tradition, don’t feel like you need to hunt down a suribachi just to make this dish!
😋 More Asian salad recipes to try
This Japanese green bean salad recipe is a staple in Japanese houses and works best alongside other meals or even as a quick summer lunch! Let me know in the comments if you tried it, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more!
Japanese Green Bean Salad (Gomaae Green Beans)
Equipment
- Mortar and pestle or spice grinder
- Pot for blanching green beans
- Colander
- Bowl with ice water
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 150 g green beans
- a pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tbsp oil
Instructions
- Prep the beans: Slice green beans into 2-inch pieces for even cooking.
- Boil water: Bring a pot of water to a boil for blanching later.
- Toast sesame seeds: In a dry pan over medium heat, toast sesame seeds until golden and fragrant, stirring often.
- Make dressing: Grind toasted sesame seeds using a mortar and pestle. Add soy sauce, a little sugar, and neutral oil. Mix into a thick paste.
- Blanch the beans: Add the green beans and a pinch of salt to boiling water. Cook until crisp-tender, then shock in ice water.
- Toss and serve: Drain beans well, then mix with the sesame dressing until evenly coated. Serve at room temp or chilled.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered approximate.
👩🍳 How to make green bean salad
- Slice the green beans (or long beans) into 2-inch pieces. Make sure they’re evenly sized for quick blanching.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. You’ll use this to blanch the green beans later, so have it ready.
- In a dry pan over medium heat, toast the sesame seeds until golden and fragrant. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
- Use a mortar and pestle to grind the toasted sesame seeds. Add soy sauce, a touch of sugar, and neutral oil. Mix into a thick, textured dressing.
- Add the green beans and a pinch of salt to the boiling water. Blanch until crisp-tender, then transfer to ice water to stop cooking.
- Drain the green beans well, then toss with the sesame dressing. Mix until coated evenly and serve chilled or at room temperature.
