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Restaurant-Style Chinese Green Beans with Garlic Sauce

A white bowl filled with vibrant, blistered chinese green beans with garlic sauce, showing a glossy dark glaze.
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Make fast, flavorful, blistered green beans tossed in a punchy garlic soy sauce right in your wok or skillet. This is a perfect vegan Chinese side dish.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (like canola or vegetable)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (for color, optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup water or vegetable broth
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce (if using), sugar, and sesame oil. Set aside.
  2. Heat your wok or large skillet over high heat until it is very hot. Add the neutral oil.
  3. Add the trimmed green beans to the hot wok in a single layer if possible. Let them cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes to start blistering and charring. This dry frying technique creates the best texture.
  4. Toss the green beans and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until they are tender-crisp and have some dark spots.
  5. Push the green beans to one side of the wok. Add the minced garlic and ginger to the empty space and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  6. Toss the garlic and ginger with the green beans. Add the water or vegetable broth and the red pepper flakes, if using. Let it bubble for about 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  7. Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the beans. Toss everything quickly to coat evenly. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beans.
  8. Remove from heat immediately and serve your wok fried green beans hot as a Chinese side dish.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can substitute tamari for soy sauce to make these gluten free.
  • If you do not have a wok, use a large, heavy-bottomed skillet and work in batches to ensure the beans blister instead of steam.
  • These garlic green beans pair well with stir-fried noodles or any simple protein for a quick dinner.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipesfleet.com/chinese-green-beans-with-garlic-sauce/