Four-Flavor Green Beans

This dish was made "on-the-fly" and it achieves that ideal flavor combination of hot, sour, salty, sweet.

FOUR-FLAVOR GREEN BEANS WITH SHALLOTS

2 lobes of shallots, peeled and thinly sliced and separated into rings

2 teaspoons of vegetable oil

1 pound of fresh green beans (I had haricots verts, but regular green beans work just fine), trimmed, cut into 2-inch segments and blanched

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

In the wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallot rings and stir fry until softened and lightly charred. Add the blanched green beans and stir fry to mix well. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and red pepper flakes. Stir and toss until well combined. Taste a bean. If needed, add a touch more soy sauce. Serve as part of a meal with rice.