Tahini Green Beans

Green beans with tahini is a leading dish disguised as a side dish! Packed with incredible flavor, the creamy tahini sauce, mint, and sumac really elevate the fresh green beans. Bonus: you can have this dish on the table in 25 minutes!

What does tahini taste like?

Tahini is made of toasted ground hulled sesame seeds that creates a paste-like texture. You can add tahini to many dishes for an earthy yet tangy flavor. It's commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine, in things like hummus. It makes a wonderful base for dips, sauces, and salad dressings or you can serve it on its own.

Ingredients

• Green beans: The vehicle that carries all of the incredible flavors of this dish. Make sure to wash and trim your green beans before preparing.
• Olive oil: You'll toss the green beans in a little olive oil before popping them into the oven. This gives them some moisture so they don't dry out.
• Sea salt and black pepper: Sprinkle the beans with some sea salt and pepper before they go in the oven so they have a base seasoning.
• Butter: You'll use the butter in a small pan to coat and toast the panko.
• Panko: These are a type of Japanese breadcrumb, but are widely available at grocery stores. They are a larger breadcrumb so they stay crispy. You can use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.
• Mint: Thinly slice the mint leaves and add them to the dish at the end. The mint manages to stand out and complement the beans all at the same time.
• Sumac: The sumac will also be used to garnish the green beans after cooking to add a citrus flavor.

What is sumac?

If you've never cooked with sumac before, it's a spice common in Middle Eastern cooking. It comes as a dried reddish-purple powder and has citrusy flavor. Some well-stocked grocery stores will carry it as well as most Middle Eastern markets.

How to make tahini green beans

1. Prepare and cook the green beans: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the beans on the baking sheet and toss them with the oil, salt, and pepper. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until they are crisp and tender.
2. Coat the panko crumbs: Melt the butter in a small frying pan. Continue to let it cook, without stirring, until it becomes golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the panko.
3. Prepare the tahini dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the tahini, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and sea salt. Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it is pourable.
4. Garnish: Put the beans into a serving bowl then add the panko, mint, and sumac and toss everything together well.

The full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below. 

What to serve with tahini green beans

Green beans with tahini go well with many different protein options, like chicken, pork, and fish. Here are a few recipes that would round out a perfect meal:

• Parmesan crusted chicken
• Sweet potato cakes
• Smoked salmon pasta
• Kale apple salad
• Grilled chicken wings
• Smothered pork chops

Recipe FAQ

Favorite green bean recipes

• Green Beans with Bacon and Boursin
• Green Beans with Garlic Scapes and Aioli
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Spicy Long Beans Recipe

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Tahini Green Beans Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

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If you've ever wondered how to add flavor to green beans — tahini green beans is your answer! The still slightly crisp beans are coated in a sweet, creamy, and nutty (but nut-free!) dressing. They're tossed in brown butter adding even more nutty flavor and just the right amount of crunch!

4 servings

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ lb green beans (washed and trimmed)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter
• ▢ ¼ cup panko (gluten-free if needed)
• ▢ ¼ cup mint (thinly sliced)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sumac

The Dressing

• ▢ 2 tablespoons tahini
• ▢ 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 1 small garlic clove (minced)
• ▢ 1 pinch sea salt
• ▢ 2-3 teaspoons cold water

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the beans on the baking sheet and toss them with the oil, salt, and pepper. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until they are crisp and tender.
  1 ½ lb green beans, ¼ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• While the beans are roasting, prepare the panko. Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Continue to let it cook, without stirring, until it becomes golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the panko.
  1 tablespoon butter, ¼ cup panko
  
• In a small bowl, whisk the tahini, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and sea salt. Add the water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it is pourable.
  2 tablespoons tahini, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 1 small garlic clove, 2-3 teaspoons cold water, 1 pinch sea salt
  
• Put the beans into a serving bowl then add the panko, mint, and sumac and toss everything together well.
  ¼ cup mint, 1 teaspoon sumac
  

Notes

Tahini is found in most grocery stores, near the peanut butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ⅙ of the recipe, Calories: 181kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 20g (7%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fat: 11g (17%), Saturated Fat: 3g (19%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 8mg (3%), Sodium: 280mg (12%), Potassium: 326mg (9%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 10g (11%), Vitamin A: 994IU (20%), Vitamin C: 15mg (18%), Calcium: 80mg (8%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

For more inspiration, check out all of our green bean recipes!