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    Home » Cuisine » Asian

    Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe - No Need For Takeout!

    Published: Jul 9, 2021 · Modified: Jun 20, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe is packed with sweet, salty, and savory flavor! The green beans are flash-fried so they're slightly caramelized, crisp, and golden outside but soft and tender inside. This recipe has all the flavor of the classic take-out dish, but you get to control the amount of sugar and salt that goes in.

    Easy Garlic Green Beans

    Most people look at me like I have three heads when I tell them I don’t eat Chinese food.

    It’s not that I don’t enjoy it; I love it! I'm a sucker for savory/sweet foods swimming in sauce. And fried rice. And noodles. What I really mean when I say that I don’t eat Chinese food is that I don’t eat it at restaurants.

    A while back I discovered that I’m very sensitive to MSG, which is a common addition at restaurants. (A serious case of head fog and lethargy always chase me after I have something that contains it!)

    Chinese Green Beans Recipe

    And also, I have a pretty good inkling that those saucy dishes contain waaaaaay more sugar and salt than I’m comfortable eating in one sitting.

    So instead, I get my fix at home.

    Green beans done up like this really are something special. When I make this recipe, I’m hard-pressed not to eat the entire dish of it myself and just call it dinner.

    With a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors, Chinese Garlic Green Beans make the perfect side dish for any number of meals. Serve them with jasmine rice and Maple Glazed Chicken for a weeknight meal that's ready in under 30 minutes and sure to be everyone's new favorite!

    Chinese Green Beans with Description

    In This Article

    • Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe
    • Tips for Making Chinese Garlic Green Beans
    • Chinese Garlic Green Beans FAQs
    • More Green Bean Recipes
    • Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe

    Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe

    This recipe is paleo and gluten free for a healthy take on this classic dish.

    It's also an easy recipe to make vegan, just use 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.

    And for the low carb version, use ½ tablespoon of keto friendly sweetener instead of honey, such as monk fruit/allulose blend.

    Ingredients for Healthy Chinese Garlic Green Beans

    Ingredients for Chinese Garlic Green Beans
    • Avocado oil
    • Fresh green beans
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Ginger
    • Coconut aminos or tamari sauce
    • Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • Honey
    • Crushed red pepper flakes
    • Water
    • Sesame seeds

    How to Make This Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe

    Start by prepping the ingredients. Trim off the stem ends of the green beans.

    chopping onion

    Slice up an onion.

    garlic and ginger

    Peel and thinly slice the garlic and grate the ginger. These two ingredients lend so much flavor to this Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe!

    ingredients in skillet

    Heat the oil in a large skillet and add all ingredients (except the sesame seeds).

    cooked green beans in skillet

    Cover the skillet and cook for a bit, and then uncover it and let the beans brown a little.

    Best Garlic Green Beans

    Sprinkle on the sesame seeds and serve them up!

    How to Store Chinese Garlic Green Beans

    Store Chinese Garlic Green Beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Tips for Making Chinese Garlic Green Beans

    • Look for the freshest green beans you can find and buy them local if they're in season. Check your local farmers' market!
    • Use chicken stock instead of water to bump up the flavor in this recipe.
    • To make this dish vegan, use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
    • For the low carb version, use ½ tablespoon of keto friendly sweetener instead of honey, such as monk fruit/allulose blend.
    Top View of Chinese Green Beans

    Chinese Garlic Green Beans FAQs

    How Long Will Fresh Green Beans Last?

    Store fresh green beans in an open plastic bag in the crisper drawer in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    How Do You Reheat Green Beans?

    You can reheat green beans on the stovetop or in the microwave.

    To reheat green beans on the stovetop, put them in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until they're warm throughout, stirring occasionally.

    To reheat green beans in the microwave, put them in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir, and microwave longer if they're still not warm throughout.

    Green Beans on Wooden Cutting Board

    Why Are My Green Beans Rubbery?

    There are two common culprits causing rubbery green beans: 1) the green beans were harvested past their prime, or 2) the green beans weren't cooked long enough.

    To make sure your beans have the best flavor and texture, look for fresh beans that are local if they're in season. Farmers' markets are a great place to find them!

    Also, be sure to follow the cooking instructions in the recipe to make sure your beans aren't undercooked. Or overcooked for that matter, because no one likes mushy green beans either.

    Garlic Green Beans Recipe

    More Green Bean Recipes

    • Green Beans with Garlic and Golden Raisins
    • Garlicky Cast Iron Green Beans
    • Spring Mix and Roasted Green Bean Salad with Creamy Maple-Miso Dressing
    • Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole
    • Middle Eastern Spiced Green Beans with Olive Oil and Tomato (Loubieh bil Zayt)
    Garlic Green Beans

    Let's Connect

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    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    garlic chinese green beans featured image

    Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe

    By: Faith Gorsky
    This Chinese Garlic Green Beans recipe is packed with sweet, salty, and savory flavor! The green beans are flash-fried so they're slightly caramelized, crisp, and golden outside but soft and tender inside.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Chinese
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 141 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1 pound fresh green beans stems trimmed
    • 1 medium onion halved and thinly sliced
    • 4 large cloves garlic thinly sliced
    • ½ tablespoon fresh grated ginger
    • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos or tamari sauce
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes more or less to taste
    • ¾ cup water
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for topping

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add all ingredients except the sesame seeds, and stir.
      ingredients in skillet ready to cook
    • Cover the skillet and cook until the beans are almost tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Uncover the skillet and continue cooking until the liquid has evaporated off and the beans are caramelized in spots, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.

    Faith's Tips

    • Boost the Flavor: Use chicken stock instead of water to bump up the flavor in this recipe.
    • Vegan Version: To make this dish vegan, use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
    • Low Carb Version: For the low carb version, use ½ tablespoon of keto friendly sweetener instead of honey, such as monk fruit/allulose blend.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 141 Calories from Fat 72
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8g12%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Sodium 183mg8%
    Potassium 303mg9%
    Carbohydrates 18g6%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 9g10%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 820IU16%
    Vitamin C 17mg21%
    Calcium 61mg6%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword Chinese Green Beans, Chinese Green Beans Recipe, Garlic Green Beans
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    Chinese Garlic Green Beans Graphic

    This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on January 19, 2018. I updated it with more information on July 9, 2021.

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    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

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