GREEN BEANS IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

 
Ingredients
 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
 4 garlic cloves
 2 jalapenos or other hot chiles
 2 T fermented black soybeans
 3 T rice vinegar
 2 T tamari (or soy sauce)
 1.5 t potato starch (or cornstarch)
 1 T brown sugar
 2 T sake or other rice wine

Preparation

Cut the green beans into equal lengths of about 1.5 inches. Blanch the green beans for 3 minutes.  Set aside.Mince the garlic.  De-seed the jalapenos and finely dice.  Mix together
the garlic, jalapeno, and black beans.  Set aside. Mix together the rice vinegar, tamari, starch, sugar, and sake.  Set aside. Fill a glass with water
and set handy next to the stove.  Put a skillet over high heat.  When the pan is hot, dump the garlic mixture
into the pan.  Stir fry for one minute, adding water as the mixture begins to stick -- add just a little at time.  Add the green beans and
stir fry for 5 minutes, again adding water just as needed. Add the vinegar mixture, mixing until evenly coated and sauce thickens.  Serve
immediately. 
Serves 2