Chinese Long Beans with Cashews

My mother grew Chinese long beans in our garden during the summer. As a kid, I always thought they looked like some kind of vegetation from outer space, being so long (the average length is 1 to 1½ feet, or up to 45 cm) and skinny, with rather wrinkly skin. When you bite into these beans, though, you’ll understand why they belong on earth. Although the flavor is similar to green beans, they have a distinct tight yet juicy texture. When they’re stir-fried in oil with aromatics, they soak up