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Indonesian-Style Green Beans
Having lived in Indonesia for so long, this was my mom’s favorite side-dish and, by chance, was the last thing I cooked for her. It’s been years since I last ate it—not sure why because it’s a really great recipe—and I wasn’t prepared for the wave of memories it brought back.
Isn’t it amazing how food can make those people we miss seem so nearby? Like I can pick up the phone and just call her. For the longest time that’s what I did; I would dial her number before I realized I couldn’t call her anymore.
But anyway… back to the recipe.
Normally I use santen for this dish. Santen is basically a concentrated coconut creme; boiled down coconut milk that’s sold in cubes. For this dish I use half a cube if you want to use santen for this as well. I used coconut milk this time!
I also use sambal. Sambal is a condiment made of chili peppers and spices and it can be sweet, hot or flavorful, all depends on your personal preferences. It can be replaced with 1/2 to 1 finely minced chili pepper.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pound green beans
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
3 heaping tbsp coconut cream (what floats on top)
1 tsp hot sambal or 1/2 red chili pepper
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
1 tsp dried coconut
2 tbsp oil
salt
If you happen to have the following spices in your pantry, add them as well.
Optional:
1/2 tsp ground lemongrass (sereh)
1/2 tsp ground coriander (ketoembar)
Directions:
It’s so simple. So very basic and simple. Green beans, onion and garlic.
Trim the beans and parboil them for 10 to 12 minutes in lightly salted water. Don’t cook the heck out of them.
Chop the onion and grate the garlic.
This is what separates the good from the bad coconut milk; good coconut milk has really thick cream floating on top and watery coconut milk at the bottom. I use the cream.
Heat the oil and sauté the onions. Give them 5 minutes over low to medium heat.
Drain the beans and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. Gotta love my retro and ancient Tupperware colander.
Surinam sambal is the best there is for me. It’s nice and hot. You can use a finely minced chili pepper instead.
After 5 minutes you add the garlic, turmeric, sambal (and other spices when you use them). Give this 30 more seconds.
Spoon in 3 full table spoons of the thick coconut cream.
Wait for it to melt. Gah, this smells so good. Bring it to a boil.
Season it with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the green beans.
Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Until the sauce has cooked down a bit and sticks to the beans.
This is optional but it adds flavor and texture to the beans.
Put some unsalted peanuts in your food processor, add a sprinkling dried coconut to it and blitz. Sprinkle all over the beans.
Serve this with a nice beef stew (Beef Rendang is delicious) and steamed rice and you got yourself the best meal ever!
| Indonesian-Style Green Beans | |
| Ingredients |
1 onion 2 garlic cloves 3 heaping tbsp coconut cream (what floats on top) 1 tsp hot sambal or 1/2 red chili pepper 1/4 tsp turmeric handful unsalted peanuts 1 tsp dried coconut 2 tbsp oil salt If you happen to have the following spices in your pantry, add them as well. Optional: 1/2 tsp ground lemongrass (sereh) 1/2 tsp ground coriander (ketoembar) |
| Directions |
Drain the beans and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. After 5 minutes you add the garlic, turmeric, sambal or minced chili pepper (and other spices when you use them). Give this 30 more seconds before you spoon in 3 really full tbsp of the coconut cream floating on top. Bring it to a boil, season it with salt an pepper and stir in the green beans. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Until the sauce has cooked down a bit and sticks to the beans. Use a food processor to mince the peanuts and dried coconut. Sprinkle it over the green beans. |
| Meal type: | side dish |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Copyright: | © kayotickitchen.com |
25 Comments »
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For the record, Americans can find that exact brand of sambal at World Market. At least my local World Market stocks it, as well as other types like sambal trassi (my favorite!)
I’m not a big fan of green beans but I love Indonesian flavors so much, I will have to give this a try.
@ Nicole:
Good to know. Was asked what sambal was several times so had no idea if it was sold there or not.
Same here. Unless I eat them like this, or they’re wrapped in bacon or mashed into a hodgepodge with other flavors, I think they’re pretty boring to eat.
This recipe sounds great! Will be trying it. So much more interesting than boring old green beans.
P.S. So sorry to hear you have lost your mom…
Is Surinaamse Sambal the same as Sambal Oelek? I have some of that in the fridge! Thanks, Nicole, for the tip about World Market!
I live in the middle of nowhere and nowhere means no World Market. I will have to enjoy the green beans vicariously.
@Niteowl Nancy:
Not really. Surinaamse sambal is much spicier than sambal oelek, but you can use the oelek as well!
You’re making me curious how Surinaamse sambal tastes. Call me sambal lover. The closest store bought one that I can get is the North American version sambal oelek which I don’t like the taste. So that is why I usually make my own sambal ulek.
@Pepy @Indonesia Eats
I’ve yet to find the first store-bought sambal ulek (oelek) I like. Unless I make it myself, I don’t eat it.
wow! This looks amazing!
Oh yes, green beans but with a new twist! Can never have enough green beans recipes. Thanks!
I’ve got some green beans in the fridge-thanks Kay, nice and easy and great timing, helping me get in the mode for my holiday (last week I made Beef Rendang) I’m off to Java/Bali in two weeks time!
That looks fantastic!! I love the flavor of coconut cream and sambal. I’m going to have to try these, but I think I might fry the green beans briefly instead of parboiling them–I like the texture and color that gives.
oh, I am definitely trying this out. I love beans and coconut!
off topic: your pepper mill looks very pretty. Could you tell me where could I find it? Do you like it?
@ Indre:
It’s called a ‘chef ‘n pepper mill’, and I cannot live without mine. I bought mine at a local cooking supplies store but they’re sold all over the world, I think.
Yum! I love anything with coconut milk in it! For those of you that can’t find the sambal where you live, I wonder if you can get it online.
thanks, I will look for it ;-)
Great looking side dish! I love green beans.
Hi there,
I just love your blog!! Every now and then I ‘have’ to check it for a nice dinner with friends!! By the way, do you know where I can find yam in Amsterdam (or close by)?
Thank you!
Groetjes, Bruna.
My mother as well lived in Indonesia and then was captured in WWII. After being released she and her family immigrated back to The Netherlands. Was that your mother’s case too? I live in the states along with my mother and we love looking at your recipes. I can’t wait to make this for my mom.
@ Dede:
No, my grandfather was a knil servicemen… a sergeant major in the Royal Dutch East Indies army. He ended up in a concentration camp on I think it was Java. He made it out alive, but we heard the gruesome stories. The Japanese back then were even worse than the Germans in ’45.
My mother (who was a little girl then) and grandmother weren’t there at that time, or they would have been captured as well. They ‘only’ spent 5 years together in Djakarta.
My grandfather was in the army as well. He was captured and did not make it out alive. I agree with you about the stories. My mom was 9 when she was captured. She lost her brother as well in concentration camp.
We always get a thrill when you use a recipe with Sambal in it! My mom uses it in everything!
Hi Kay,
on Saturday I hosted an Indonesian evening for my friends; it’s a yearly thing- I hold a dinner party for about 15 pers. after inspiration gained from my holiday destination. This year I went to Java/ Bali.
I actually made two of your dishes; this one and Atjar Ketimun. Thanks Kay for helping to make my evening such a success!
I usually make a post on my blog with all the recipes so my friends can create them at home, would you have a problem with this? Of course I will give you all the credit and a link to your recipes.
The cucumber was HOT! And was excellent with the other dishes. I usually favour Thai cuisine; I love spicy and ample sauce and I was in general rather disappointed with the Indonesean cuisine- too sweet, and dry- too many bones, not enough heat…(Oh dear must not be too negative.)
Vanessa
Hi Kay,
I had a pile of cooked green beans leftover from yesterday in my fridge and when I googled indonesian coconut green beans, your recipe came up. By coincidence I had everything, so I’ve just made it. It smells and tastes delicious, thank you!
Sinead
This recipe was absoloutely Delish could of licked my plate lol
I almost ate the whole pan of green beans
Thank you for this simple and new spin for me anyways on green beans my parents eat a lot of over cooked boring green beans sprinkledtwitch nutmeg
This is my new favorite vegetable recipe
Cant wait to share this one :-) made my dinner dance
Hi kay, I stumbled upon your outrageously pretty blog via pinterest. I’m Indonesian and live in Jakarta but frankly I have never made this green bean dish. Lol!
where have I been :p
Anyhow, hugs to you and your family:)