Glazed Chinese Long Beans

My favorite farmer's market stand (aside from the man who sells the best melons) is the Asian vegetable stand, because they sell things that no one else sells.  Better still they give advise about how to prepare what you buy; they don't want you to have a bad experience just because you have never made something before.  Chinese long beans are very similar in taste to green beans, maybe a bit starchier, but they look entirely different.  Here is a delicious way to have them.

1/2 pound Chinese long beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup onion
1 tablespoon freshly minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/4 cup stock
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, optional

In a pot of boiling water, blanch long beans for 2 minutes until slightly tender. Allow to cool.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add onions, ginger and garlic. Mix together. Add red pepper flakes and long beans. Allow to cook for a few minutes. Stir in  stock, honey and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add sesame seeds, if desired. Mix together