This stir-fry Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe is a super easy side dish! The green beans are blistered until tender, and tossed with tons of garlic and a spicy Asian sauce that is out of this world!
This popular, restaurant-style side dish takes only 20 minutes to make! The green beans are stir-fried, not deep-fried, but achieve the same blistered effect. While it's not your traditional Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe, it's quick and easy with lots of bold flavors, just like my Spicy Asian Brussels Sprouts recipe!
What ingredients are in Garlic Green Beans?
You'll only need a few ingredients for this delicious Chinese side dish:
[*See recipe card for exact quantities.]
- green beans
- reduced-sodium soy sauce
- sherry
- sambal oelek
- fresh ginger
- garlic cloves
- vegetable oil (or other neutral oil)
Substitutions and variations
- Make this gluten-free. Simply sub out the soy sauce for gluten-free soy sauce, coconut aminos, or tamari.
- Want it less spicy? Eliminate the sambal oelek, and use your desired amount of red chili flakes instead.
- Make this alcohol-free. If you don't want to use sherry wine in the sauce, you can sub it out with chicken broth.
In This Article:
Beautiful, fresh green beans are so good for you! Green beans, string beans, or snap beans are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and K, and of folic acid and fiber. They have similar nutritional benefits to snap peas and okra.
TOP TIP: Blanching the green beans in boiling water for one minute, and shocking them in ice water, ensures that the beans will cook up evenly and quickly. I highly recommend this step!
How do you make garlic green beans?
This recipe could not be easier! Follow the steps below for a perfect side dish:
[*See recipe card for detailed instructions.]
1. Boil the green beans in a pot of water for 1 minute.
2. Drain the green beans and shock them in a bowl of ice water.
3. Dry the green beans on a kitchen towel or paper towels.
4. Stir-fry the green beans with garlic in a skillet or wok until blistered.
TOP TIP: Make sure to thoroughly dry the green beans before stir-frying. Wet green beans will make the oil sputter, and the green beans will not blister properly.
5. Whisk all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
6. Coat the green beans with the sauce.
What to serve with garlic green beans
These Chinese Garlic Green Beans are a perfect side dish for so many Asian-style entrees (and dishes that are not Asian). Here are some of my recipes to pair them with:
- Grilled Beef with Green Curry Sauce
- Chinese Five Spice Pork Tenderloin
- Miso Glazed Salmon
- Instant Pot Korean-Inspired Pulled Pork
- Thai Curry Chicken with Rice
Storage instructions
Store the leftover green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat the green beans in the microwave for 30 seconds, or reheat in a covered skillet over medium heat until warm and tender.
Common FAQ's
The long bean — also known as Chinese long bean, yard-long bean, asparagus bean, and several other names — is well-known in East and Southeast Asia. A long bean may look like a thin extra-long version of our familiar pole or bush “green” bean, but the two are not closely related.
Green beans, string beans, or snap beans are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and K, and of folic acid and fiber. They have similar nutritional benefits to snap peas and okra.
Want more side dish recipes like this one?
If you liked this Chinese green beans recipe, you're going to want these recipes too!
- Roasted Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms
- Cauliflower Kimchi Fried Rice
- Spicy Asian Brussels Sprouts
- Baby Bok Choy with Ginger and Garlic
- Stir-Fry Broccoli and Baked Tofu
Recipe notes
- Blanching the green beans in boiling water for one minute, and shocking them in ice water, ensures that the beans will cook up evenly and quickly. I highly recommend this step!
- Make sure to thoroughly dry the green beans before stir-frying. Wet green beans will make the oil sputter, and the green beans will not blister properly.
- Try not to overcook the green beans. They should be crisp-tender, not overly wilted.
Chinese Garlic Green Beans
This stir-fry Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe is a super easy side dish! The green beans are blistered until tender, and tossed with tons of garlic and a spicy Asian sauce that is out of this world!
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sherry
- 1 teaspoon sambal oelek
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely minced
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or other neutral oil)
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add in the green beans and boil for 1 minute. Strain the green beans and add to a large bowl filled with ice water. Let sit for 2 minutes, then place the green beans on a kitchen or paper towel to dry thoroughly.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the soy sauce, sambal oelek, sherry wine, and ginger in a small bowl.
- Heat a large skillet or wok with the oil over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the green beans until they start to blister and are tender, about 5-6 minutes. Then add in the garlic and continue to stir fry for 1 minute.
- Toss in the sauce to thoroughly coat the green beans. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Serve while hot.
Notes
- Blanching the green beans in boiling water for one minute, and shocking them in ice water, ensures that the beans will cook up evenly and quickly. I highly recommend this step!
- Make sure to thoroughly dry the green beans before stir-frying. Wet green beans will make the oil sputter, and the green beans will not blister properly.
- Try not to overcook the green beans. They should be crisp-tender, not overly wilted.
Watch a short video of this recipe here.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Sides
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 133
- Sugar: 4.4 g
- Sodium: 166.9 mg
- Fat: 10.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Marc says
Which green beans are the best to use for this recipe?
Asian Caucasian says
Hi Mark! This recipe works with just about any green beans! Long beans, French green beans (haricoverts), flat green beans, so many choices!
Cheryl Finegold says
I made these green beans for my family last night and they were easy peasy! I served them with a side of steamed rice to go with my main dish. Perfect in every way!
Asian Caucasian says
That's so good to hear! Glad you found an easy green beans dish that everyone loved. Thanks so much for your feedback, Cheryl!
Blaire Hicks says
These green beans were SO easy to make and came out delicious! I added tofu to the beans for a vegetarian meal. Loved!
Asian Caucasian says
Great idea to add the tofu into the green beans! I bet the tofu soaked up all of that goodness in the sauce. So glad you enjoyed this recipe!