Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans

Forget take-out. These vegetarian Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans are healthier, quick, easy and super tasty. 

A wickedly good addition to any meal.

I made these 3 times in the last week because everyone loves them and they work so well with just about any protein. I found a recipe in a Food Network Magazine and made a couple of minor tweaks, the main one being to add some heat with chili flakes.

The stir fry method used in the recipe is called “dry-frying” as very little oil is used. In fact, I only used 2 teaspoons of oil for a pound of beans.  Apparently, in most Chinese restaurants, these beans are deep fried in oil in order to speed up the cooking process.  The healthier dry-fry method chars or puckers the beans.  I found that a total of 10 minutes is perfect to maintain some bite on the beans, but if you want them more charred, just increase the time they cook on the medium-high setting instead of medium.

The aromatic coating on the stir fry green beans is simple and flavorful.  Its made of garlic, ginger, soy, rice wine or Sherry and a dash of sesame oil and sugar.

I would normally make these stir-fry green beans as a side dish, but I think they would make a unique appetizer too. As long as you keep them al dente.

Tailor To Your Taste

• Use as much chili flakes or sriracha you like to achieve the amount of spice you like.
• Use rice wine, fortified wine or Sherry.
• Add chopped green onions/scallions toward the end of cooking.
• For a meat version, add some sauteed ground pork before you add the sauce/coating.
• Sprinkle sesame seeds or chopped nuts on the beans for garnish.

Shortcuts

• Buy green beans in a package that are pre-washed with ends trimmed. Or use the slim Costco french beans which don’t need trimming (cook time will be less).
• Use garlic and ginger frozen cubes (or from a jar) instead of fresh.

Make Ahead Stir Fry Green Beans

• Slightly under-cook the beans and place the finished dish in the oven on a low heat to keep warm.
• Or make the sauce and dry fry the beans ahead of time. Just before serving, heat the pan to medium high, add the sauce and saute with beans for 2 minutes to finish the dish. I do this all the time.

Other delicious green bean recipes you might love

• best green beans with panko crumbs
• Flat green beans (charred) 

Print Recipe Pin Save Recipe Recipe Saved!

Rate this recipe here

4.93 from 13 votes

Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans

Vegetarian Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans are a wickedly good addition to any meal. Healthy, quick, easy, tasty, spicy (or not) and much better than take-out.

Prep Time7 mins

Cook Time11 mins

Total Time18 mins

Course: make ahead, Side Dish

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings: 4

1x2x3x

Author: Cheryl

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans, washed and tips removed
• 2 teaspoon vegetable or peanut oil
• GARNISH: toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Coating/Sauce

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Rice wine, Sherry or Fortified wine
• 2 teaspoon minced garlic (or more to taste)
• 2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (or sriracha) or more to get the spice level you like

Instructions

• PREPARE COATING/SAUCE: Combine all ingredients in small bowl and set aside.
• DRY-FRY BEANS: Heat oil in a wok or skillet to medium. Add green beans and saute for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium high. Continue to saute, stirring for 4 minutes until beans are tender crisp and charred a bit. If you like them more charred, reverse time and cook 4 minutes on medium and 6 minutes on medium high heat.
• FINISH BEANS: Pour sauce into skillet Stir to coat beans evenly. Saute one more minute. Transfer to serving platter. Top with toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

Make Ahead: two options

1. Slightly under-cook the beans and place the finished dish in the oven on a low heat to keep warm.
2. Or make the sauce and dry-fry the beans ahead of time. Just before serving, heat the pan to medium high, add the sauce and saute with beans for 2 minutes to heat through and finish the dish. I do this all the time.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans

Amount Per Serving

Calories 66 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 406mg18%

Potassium 249mg7%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 820IU16%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 45mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?We'd love you to rate it above under 'rate this recipe' or in the comment section below. Thanks!

This recipe, first published in Jan 2018, has now been updated.