• 4 cups green beans, about 1 lb
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 1 tbsp shallot, thinly sliced
• ½ tsp marjoram
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ cup dried plums, diced
• ¼ cup Shaoxing wine (紹興酒), dry sherry, or dry white wine
• ¼ cup pine nuts, (optional)
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, (optional)

Wash, trim ends and cut beans into 3-4 cm pieces, steam until tender. In a wok or medium sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium low heat. Add beans, shallot, garlic and pine nuts. Saute for a couple minutes. Add spices, plums, sherry, and cook until excess liquid has cooked off.