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.

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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

Author: Cheryl

Ingredients

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

Coating/Sauce

• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Rice wine, Sherry or Fortified wine
• 2 tsp minced garlic (or more to taste)
• 2 tsp fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)
• 1/4 tsp 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.

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