Indonesian green beans in coconut sauce

An Indonesian classic

Green beans have been cultivated for thousands of years and are now enjoyed all over the world.

They are used in countless dishes, from casseroles to Asian curries. In Indonesian cooking, they play an important role and are a familiar ingredient in dishes such as sambal goreng buncis and this classic favorite: Indonesian green beans in coconut sauce (sayur buncis).

A vegetable with benefits

Besides being versatile and flavorful, green beans are also good for you. They are low in calories and packed with fiber, vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants. As a result, they support both digestion and overall health.

When cooked briefly, they stay crisp and retain much of their nutritional value. In this recipe, you can choose the method you prefer: briefly boil them first or let them cook slowly in the flavorful sauce. Both options work well. It simply depends on how much time you have.

Homemade spice paste

What makes sayur buncis so special is the homemade bumbu. No store-bought sauce here, just a fresh spice paste that comes together in minutes. All you need is a food processor or mortar and pestle. Blend the shallots, cloves garlic, red chili pepper, ground galangal, ground ginger, shrimp paste, and a splash of vegetable oil into a smooth paste.

Cook the bumbu gently until fragrant and lightly colored. Add the gula djawa (palm sugar), kecap manis (or sweet soy sauce), 1/2 cup vegetable broth, coconut milk, 1 bruised stalk lemongrass, and 2 salam leaves (optional). Let everything simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.

Cook it your way

Now it’s time to add the green beans. If you’ve already cooked them until crisp-tender, they only need a few minutes to warm through in the sauce. Prefer an easier approach or don’t want to use an extra pot? Simply let them cook directly in the sauce instead.

In that case, allow about 25 to 30 minutes and stir occasionally. The result is just as delicious, perhaps even more flavorful, as the beans have time to absorb all the spices and seasonings. For a little extra heat, sprinkle a few slices of red chili pepper on top just before serving.

Perfect for a rice table

Sayur buncis is a wonderful addition to an Indonesian rice table. Serve it with white rice and dishes such as ayam smoor (Indonesian chicken stew) or daging Bali (Balinese beef stew). The dish is rich, savory, slightly sweet, and perfectly seasoned. You don’t need any store-bought mixes to make this classic at home. And trust us, once you’ve made your own Indonesian green beans in coconut sauce, you’ll want to make it again and again.

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