We have a few go-to Asian recipes in our weekly menu rotation (Korean Chicken and Asian Pork Tenderloin for example), but sometimes struggle to find a good veggie side to round out an Asian meal.  Sauteed snow peas are good, but get pretty boring after the fifth or sixth time you serve them.  We were excited to try this recipe, which kicks up plain old green beans with Asian flavor subtle enough to complement the main course without overpowering it.  What makes these beans so good is the sauce (of sorts) made with green onions, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and oyster sauce.  Add some sliced roasted red pepper and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and scallions, and the green beans are anything but boring.  Come to think of it, these same ingredients could take the snow pea to a whole new level as well.

Chop the white parts of the green onions into small pieces, then thinly slice the green parts into strips for garnish.

Cook the green beans in boiling water until they are crisp-tender — about 3 minutes.  Drain the beans and place them in a bowl of ice water so they stop cooking completely.

Heat a tablespoon of sesame oil over medium-high heat, add the green onion (white parts) and minced garlic and ginger and saute for about 1 minute.

Add the red pepper and green beans and cook for another minute.

Add a tablespoon of oyster sauce (usually available in the Asian food section of most grocery stores) and some freshly ground black pepper and stir it all together until heated through — less than a minute.

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onion slivers and serve.  A sophisticated-tasting, but easy-cooking, interesting Asian side dish in a flash.