19 strong recipes

Spice cake made with amber ale, mixed dried fruit, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The fruit simmers in beer before baking for a dense, malty, pub-inspired dessert.

Homemade string hoppers (idiyappam), delicate steamed noodle nests pressed from a soft flour dough and steamed in minutes. A Sri Lankan staple, light and lacy, served hot with curry.

Homemade string hopper sweet rolls, delicate steamed rice-flour noodle disks wrapped around a sweet coconut treacle and cinnamon filling. A soft, lightly sweet Sri Lankan steamed treat for breakfast or tea.

Traditional Armenian braided string cheese made from mozzarella curd, flavored with aromatic mahleb and black seeds. Hand-stretched, twisted, and braided into beautiful ropes.

Pickled string beans: a prize-winning, old-fashioned canning recipe that turns fresh green beans into a sweet-tart, spiced jar staple. Crisp, snappy, and ready for the antipasto platter.

Chinese-style crispy string beans flash-fried in a wok then tossed with soy sauce, sherry, garlic, minced pork, and sesame oil. A savory, blistered side dish ready in 30 minutes.

String beans Provencal braised in a sauce of plum tomatoes, onion, garlic, and thyme until meltingly tender. A French-style green bean side dish that's vegan and serves a crowd with simple ingredients.

This chocolate custard pie hides a layer of butterscotch and chocolate chips beneath a silky cocoa filling. Simple pantry ingredients, one bowl, and a whole lot of yum.

Thai-style string bean salad with tofu, red and green chilies, dressed in a coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, and chili sauce vinaigrette. Vegan and vibrant.

A no-cook marinated string bean salad with mushrooms, cucumber, cauliflower, and pimentos in a tangy champagne vinegar dressing. Make ahead, fat-free, perfect for picnics and potlucks.

Pennsylvania Dutch ham with string beans and potatoes, simmered together in a smoky broth for hours. Old-fashioned one-pot supper served with vinegar on the side.

String beans and coconut koora, a South Indian stir-fry with green beans, toasted chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds, and coconut. A quick vegetable side dish with a crunchy tadka topping.

This green-bean dish is outstanding. The green beans exude aromatic flavors and have an interesting chewy texture.

Southern-style green beans simmered low and slow with a smoky ham bone until fork-tender. Just 5 ingredients and the kind of home cooking that feeds the soul.

Fassoulakia Yahni: Greek-style green beans slow-braised in olive oil with tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs. A classic ladera dish that's naturally vegan and full of Mediterranean flavor.

Szechuan-style blistered green beans deep-fried until wrinkled and charred, then stir-fried with ground pork, dried shrimp, and mustard greens in a soy-sesame sauce.