12 ounces green beans, ends trimmed, cut in 2 inch lengths (about 3 cups)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup water
4 ounces ground pork (½ cup), optional
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
6-9 dried small hot red chiles, broken in half, or to taste (shake out seeds for less heat)
1 tablespoon fermented black beans, rinsed and chopped or 2 tablespoons Tianjian (Tienstin) preserved vegetable, rinsed, squeezed dry, and chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
Set a 14 inch wok or 12 inch frying pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon oil and rotate pan to spread the oil.
Add the beans and salt. Stir fry until the beans coated with oil.
Add the water. Cover and cook until beans are bright green and barely tender to bite, 1-2 minutes.
Uncover and stir fry until the water evaporates and beans begin to brown, 1-2 minutes.
Pour the beans into serving dish.
Return the pan to high heat (medium-high, if omitting pork).
Add 2 tablespoons oil, pork, garlic, and ginger. Stir fry just until the pork is browned and crumbly, 1-2 minutes. (Or for vegetarian version, cook just until the garlic is soft, about 30 seconds.)
Add the chiles, ginger, and fermented black beans. Stir fry until the chiles begin to brown, about 30 seconds.
Add vinegar, soy sauce, and green beans; stir fry to blend.
Pour into the serving dish and enjoy.
Recipe by Fit Bottomed Girls at https://fitbottomedgirls.com/2016/01/healthy-chinese-food-recipes/