Sesame Tempura Green Beans with Soy Dipping Sauce

Sesame Tempura Green Beans with Soy Dipping Sauce
About 4 cups vegetable oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup beer (not dark)
3/4 pound green beans, trimmed
Heat 2 inches of oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 365 degrees.
While oil is heating, make dipping sauce by stirring together soy sauce, lime juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved.
Whisk together flour and sesame seeds and whisk in beer until batter is smooth.
Toss about 10 beans in batter until coated. Add to oil 1 at a time (to keep separate) and fry, turning, until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer with tongs to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt to taste. Coat and fry remaining beans in the same manner.
Serve beans with dipping sauce.
Serves six.
Editor's note: Chef Gaetano DiBenedetto makes his batter with flour, sugar, salt and yeast and dips broccoli florets.
Nutrition values per serving: 69 calories, 2 g fat, 11 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein, 0 mg cholesterol, 152 mg sodium.
"The Best of Gourmet: Featuring the Flavors of Sicily" (2001 Random House, $35)

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