Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae) – Simple, Authentic & Delicious
Make this easy Japanese sesame green beans recipe in 15 minutes! Crunchy green beans coated in a sweet, savoury sesame sauce that’s so addictive, you’ll want it on every vegetable. Easy side dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep and quick lunches.
Simple Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae) Ready in 15 Minutes
There’s something wonderfully simple about Japanese cooking that makes their side dishes so easy to prepare yet full of flavour.
These Japanese sesame green beans, or green bean goma-ae, are a perfect example. With just 4 ingredients, you get a side dish that’s nutty, sweet and savoury all at once.
What makes my version special is the use of freshly ground, toasted sesame seeds for maximum aroma, and a sauce that clings to every crisp green bean.
My tip is also not to overcook the green beans and to be generous with the sesame sauce so every bean is coated in that addictive flavour.
I love that this recipe takes less than 15 minutes to make and can be prepped ahead for the week. Share it warm with rice bowls, grilled meats, teriyaki salmon or served chilled with packed lunch boxes.
Once you master this simple sesame sauce, you’ll find yourself using it on other vegetables too!
What Is Goma-ae and Why it’s Special
Goma-ae (胡麻和え) is one of those simple Japanese side dishes that proves you don’t need many ingredients to create something full of flavour.
The name literally means “sesame dressing” — goma (胡麻) for sesame and ae (和え) for mix or toss.
It’s a classic way to enjoy vegetables, especially green beans or spinach, coated in a savoury, nutty sesame sauce that’s both comforting and addictive.
Lightly blanched green beans tossed in a nutty sesame gomae sauce of soy, sugar, and toasted sesame. A quick, authentic Japanese side dish that’s simple, healthy, and full of flavour.
Recipe Overview
Flavour/Texture: Crisp green beans tossed in a nutty, sweet, and savoury sesame dressing, with a subtle crunch from freshly ground toasted sesame seeds. Each bite is light, refreshing, and full of umami flavour.
Ease: This is a beginner-friendly, easy Japanese side dish with just four main ingredients. Minimal prep and no complicated techniques make it perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Time: Ready in under 15 minutes. Quick blanching of beans and a few seconds to grind sesame seeds make this a fast, fuss-free goma-ae recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Japanese Green Beans
Green beans: Fresh and firm, bright green beans are important in this recipe.
Toasted sesame seeds: The star of the dressing adds a rich, nutty flavour to it. Toasted and freshly ground for that nutty, aromatic flavour Goma-ae is famous for.
Soy sauce/sugar: To balance the savoury and sweetness of the dressing.
Green beans, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and sugar — just four ingredients to create a traditional green bean gomae with rich, nutty flavour and glossy sesame coating.
Variations and Substitutions
Different vegetables: Goma-ae is not limited to green beans. Try it with spinach, burdock root, broccoli, asparagus, carrots or okra. All pair well with the nutty sesame sauce. Spinach goma-ae is especially popular in Japan.
Flavour boosters: A teaspoon of shiro miso (white miso) gives the sauce an extra layer of umami and makes it slightly richer. I would reduce the soy sauce to 1 teaspoon otherwise it could get salty.
Make it spicy: if you like a little kick to goma-ae, add a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi for gentle heat.
Extra crunch: Sprinkle additional sesame seeds to finish.
Soy sauce: For a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
How to Make Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae)
How To Prepare Green Beans
Wash and trim green beans.
Boil a pot of water and blanch beans for 3-4 minutes until just tender.
Remove and place green beans immediately into ice bath or run under cold water to stop further cooking. Once cool, drain and remove any excess water.
Cut the green beans in half.
How To Prepare Sesame Sauce; Goma-ae
Gently toast sesame seeds in dry pan on low heat until golden.
In a small bowl, combine the ground sesame seeds, soy sauce and sugar to form a paste.
Remove from heat and roughly grind the seeds in a mortar and pestle until coarse, leaving some crunch and texture. You can use a regular mortar and pestle or suribachi bowl to grind the sesame seeds.
How To Assemble Side Dish
Add green beans to the sesame dressing and mix until the beans are evenly coated.
Serve at room temperature or chilled as a side dish.
Blanch green beans until tender-crisp, cool immediately, grind toasted sesame seeds, mix with soy and sugar to form a paste, then toss beans to coat evenly. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
How to Make This Salad Perfectly [Expert Tips]
Don’t overcook the green beans: Blanch until just tender and still bright green. Overcooked beans lose their crunch and colour quickly. An ice bath locks in colour and texture.
Grind your sesame seeds fresh: You can use pre-ground sesame seeds but it will not have the same full nutty aroma.
A few seconds in the mortar and pestle or spice grinder is all it takes to release the natural oils and flavour.
I prefer a coarser grind to retain the crunch and texture, but if you prefer a smoother sauce, grind the sesame seeds more finely.
Be generous with the goma-ae sauce: Every bean should be coated. If it doesn’t feel like enough, make a little more! It only takes a few minutes to whip up another batch.
Adjust sweetness to taste: I like my sesame dressing slightly sweet to balance the soy sauce and enhance the sesame flavour. Taste and adjust the sugar or soy sauce as you go to find your perfect balance.
Grind sesame seeds to a coarse texture, not powder — it gives the sauce that authentic Japanese goma-ae crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but thaw and blanch them briefly to keep their texture. Be careful not to overcook – frozen beans soften faster than fresh. I prefer fresh beans for their crispness and colour. Avoid using canned beans.
Goma-ae uses a simple sesame-soy dressing without mayonnaise, giving it a lighter, more traditional flavour. My Japanese creamy sesame dressing recipe includes Kewpie mayonnaise for a richer, silkier texture.
Yes, this Japanese sesame green bean recipe is fantastic for meal prep. You can mix the beans and sesame sauce together and store in an airtight container for 2 days.
Absolutely. Store the sesame sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, simply toss with freshly blanched vegetables.
Yes, but freshly ground sesame always gives a stronger, more aromatic flavour that really elevates this simple side dish.
Tahini works in a pinch, but it will be smoother and lack the traditional subtle crunch from freshly ground seeds.
An easy Japanese side dish that will pair well with rice or grain bowls, grilled fish, teriyaki chicken or bento lunch boxes. You can serve it warm or chilled.
At The Sidesmith, we specialise in fresh, vibrant sides that bring balance to your table. This Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae) recipe celebrates the nutty richness of toasted sesame with the freshness of blanched green beans — an authentic, simple Japanese side dish that’s perfect for any occasion.
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Japanese Sesame Green Beans (Goma-ae)
Ingredients
- 300 g green beans
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar, white
Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.
Instructions
- Wash and trim green beans.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Place green beans into boiling water and blanch for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove and place green beans into ice bath or run under cold water to stop further cooking.
- Once cool, drain and remove any excess water.
- Cut the green beans in half.
- Gently toast sesame seeds in dry pan on low heat until golden.
- Roughly grind sesame seeds in mortar and pestle.
- In a small bowl, combine the ground sesame seeds, soy sauce and sugar. Stir until the mixture forms a paste-like consistency.
- Add green beans to the sesame sauce and mix until the beans are well coated.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled as a side dish.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the beans. Blanch them quickly to keep the beans bright green and crisp, then cool in an ice bath.
- For maximum nutty aroma, grind the sesame seeds fresh. Using pre-ground or tahini works but alters the texture.
- Lightly toast sesame seeds for a deeper, richer flavour.
- Make sure every bean is covered; double the sauce if necessary.
- Taste and balance sugar and soy sauce to your liking.
- Try other vegetables: Works well with spinach, broccoli, asparagus, or okra.
Nutrition
*Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.
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Amy
Love turning everyday salads and sides into fancy recipes jammed packed with flavour!
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