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This recipe for Sweet Sambal Green Beans is one of my all time favourite things to make. It kinda reminds me of the green beans you get at Szechuan restaurants – the ones that are really blistered and come with about a pound of chilis on top.

I never used to like spicy food. In fact, I used to get VERY annoyed at my brother when he would put Emeril’s “essence” on everything he cooked at our house. (Any old-school Food Network fans out there?)

It really is true though, the more heat you expose yourself to, the more you can handle. And now I’m a total die hard hot sauce loving animal. Who knew?

Why I love these Sweet Spicy Beans

This recipe is in no way traditional. It’s authentic to me, because I made it just the way I wanted it, and it turned out to be so good that I had to share it with you.

The whole thing comes together in about 5 minutes which means it’s the perfect thing to make when you’re feeling real lazy and all you really want to do is watch back-to-back episodes of the Golden Girls – or whatever the kids are watching these days.

Spicy hot Sambal Oelek is balanced out with Maple Syrup, tons of ginger and garlic, and the beans get coated so nicely in all of this magic before the final touch of salted roasted peanuts.

You’ll end up with a sticky plate of sweet spicy morsels that you literally can’t stop eating. The heat keeps you coming back for more, and more, until they’re gone. As for what to eat along with these beans? I wouldn’t say no my Creamy Gochujang Noodles. This combo will kill any hangover in a heartbeat.

Easy to find ingredients

All the ingredients you need for this can be found at your regular grocery store. If you’re unfamiliar with Sambal Oelek, look in the Asian section. It’ll be there. If you can’t find it there, it’s definitely online! It’s a wonderful chili paste that is a pantry staple for me, and I have a feeling it might become the same for you.

So grab a cold beer and let’s make these guys!

One little note: In the video, I accidentally used fish sauce instead of sesame oil. I guess I was too busy being in awkward YouTuber mode and I wasn’t paying attention!

But it turns out, the fish sauce was an AMAZING mistake. If you go this route, be sure to add a little more maple syrup to balance out all the salt. I do recommend that you follow my mistake though, it’s freaking delish.

Snuggle up and enjoy!

This sambal green bean recipe is sure to please the heat lovers in your life. If you’re not a heat lover, you can definitely reduce the sambal to tone it down a notch or two.

Eat this as a side dish, bring to a potluck, and feel free to add diced chicken or put an egg on it if you feel that you need that protein.

But for me, this is a perfect dinner just as it is, to be demolished with a cold beer and a snuggly cozy movie on a lazy Sunday evening.

Enjoy!