Chinese Green Beans are coated with a delicious, tangy, and spicy sauce made with chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds. They are soft and tender, like in a restaurant.
I've reserved these Spicy Chinese Green Beans for a barbecue and grilling night. And every time I do, my family welcomes them with excitement!
The green beans have a perfect crunchy bite(like this Spicy garlic edamame). They are beautifully coated with Asian flavors(similar to this Spicy teriyaki sauce), making them a great complement to any mild main course.
Just chop off the tails, cook the beans, and toss them with our spicy sauce blend. That's it; you only need ingredients like chili paste, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame seeds.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️Chinese spicy green bean is the easiest dish you can make.
⭐️It takes approximately 15 minutes to finish.
⭐️Tastes delicious!!
Ingredients
- Green Beans: For a satisfying crunch and firm texture, choose bright green-colored beans with smooth skin. You can also use store-bought pre-cut beans if you're short on time to make these Asian-style green beans.
- Vegetable Oil: Roasted sesame oil or sunflower oil are possible substitutions.
- Garlic: One teaspoon of minced garlic would be sufficient for this recipe; however, if you love garlic flavors, add another teaspoon.
- Sesame Seeds: Black and white seeds give an Asian look and feel. Stores carry them in the spice aisle. If you do not find them, you can skip using them.
- Soy Sauce: I have used the Kikkoman brand light soy sauce. You can also use dark soy sauce with intense flavors and more sodium.
- Rice Vinegar: My local grocery stores in Pennsylvania carry rice vinegar, and I hope most stores in the United States have it, too. If you're looking for a substitute, you can use apple cider vinegar, which brings a new flavor profile.
- Chili Garlic Sauce: This adds garlic and a gentle spicy kick. For intense heat, substitute with the famous Sriracha sauce or roasted red pepper flakes.
How To Make Chinese Green Beans
- Wash and clean the green beans under running water. Trim off both ends. Set aside.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil on medium heat. Place the steamer basket over the pot and add the green beans. Steam them for 4-6 minutes or until they turn crisp-tender.
- Transfer the green beans to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain the green beans and set them aside.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add vegetable oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, cooked green beans, and white & black sesame seeds. Stir fry until the sauce coats the green beans evenly.
- Transfer the stir-fried Chinese green beans to a serving plate. Enjoy the hot green beans as a side dish.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
- This Chinese green bean tastes mildly hot. The chili garlic sauce causes the heat in this recipe.
- The heat of this Chinese green bean depends on the amount of chili garlic sauce. If you find it too spicy, you can reduce the amount.
- On the other hand, if you prefer more intense heat, increase the quantity of chili garlic sauce and add Sriracha sauce and red pepper flakes for an extra kick(like this Sriracha green beans).
The Leftovers
- You can store these Chinese green beans in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for up to four months.
- To thaw, transfer them to the refrigerator overnight for up to 8 hours or use the microwave for a quicker option.
- For reheating, warm them in the microwave in 30-second increments or on the stovetop over medium heat with a sprinkle of water, tossing until heated through.
FAQ
For the best results, select fresh green beans. If you're visiting your local farmers' market or grocery store, look for bright green beans with a firm texture. Choose medium-sized beans with smooth skin, free from dark spots or blemishes.
You can skip the black sesame seeds altogether. The flavor profile will differ slightly, but the dish will taste delicious.
More Asian Style Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Chinese Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb green bean
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds roasted/optional/for garnish
- 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds roasted/optional/for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and clean green beans
- In a large pan, bring water to rolling boil.
- Add green beans and cook it for about 4-6 minutes or until is crisp and cooked. Check in between.
- Once it cooked perfectly, transfer to cold water. Drain it, and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil and minced garlic. Stir until garlic is fragrant.
- Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, roasted sesame seeds, and green beans.
- Stir fry until the spicy sauce mixture coats green beans evenly.
- Transfer to a plate and ENJOY!!
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the chili garlic sauce, or add Sriracha and red pepper flakes for extra spice.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or use a microwave for a quicker option.
- Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments or on the stovetop over medium heat with a sprinkle of water, tossing until heated.
Dina and Bruce says
We used to get these in a place in NYC. Now we make them at home! Thank you for this recipe!! So good!!
Shashi says
What a delicious way to enjoy green beans! This is going to be happening often in our home
Justine says
Delicious! Such a super simple way to add a little flavor and heat to dinnertime. We loved it!
Jacqueline says
They look so delicious I have added them to our meal plan this week.