Description
Chinese Garlic Green Beans are a flavorful and crispy side dish featuring fresh green beans fried to a tender-crisp texture, then sautéed with fragrant minced garlic and seasoned with garlic salt, red pepper flakes, and toasted sesame seeds. This quick and easy recipe brings vibrant taste and a satisfying crunch to any meal.
Ingredients
Green Beans
- 1 pound green beans, rinsed and dried
Frying and Seasoning
- 1/2 cup safflower or vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 5 to 6 plump cloves)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt or kosher salt
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Green Beans: Snap off the tough ends of the green beans. If your green beans are very long, snap them in half to ensure even cooking.
- Heat Oil: Heat the oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Check if the oil is hot enough by inserting bamboo chopsticks into the wok; tiny bubbles should form rapidly around them. Alternatively, add a green bean to the oil—if bubbles form immediately around it, the oil is ready.
- Fry Green Beans: Working in batches, fry the green beans for about 2 minutes until they start to wrinkle on the outside. Do not overcook to maintain a crisp texture. Use a spider strainer to remove the beans and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat until all green beans are fried. Optional: blot with paper towels to reduce greasiness.
- Set Aside Oil: Pour the used frying oil into a bowl, or cool it completely in the wok if you prefer not to handle hot oil. Do not wipe the wok, as residual oil will be used for the next step.
- Sauté Garlic and Combine: Heat the wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Return green beans to the wok, add garlic salt, and stir to combine. Cook together for another minute to blend flavors.
- Serve and Garnish: Turn off the heat and transfer the green beans to a serving plate. Garnish with red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds. Optional additions include chili crisp or chili oil for extra heat and flavor.
Notes
- Ensure green beans are well rinsed and dried before frying to prevent oil splatter.
- Safflower or vegetable oil works well due to high smoke points; avoid using olive oil as it has a lower smoke point.
- You can adjust the amount of garlic and red pepper flakes to suit your taste preference.
- For less greasy green beans, blot them briefly with paper towels after frying.
- To make this dish vegan and vegetarian-friendly, ensure chili crisp or chili oil used contains no animal products.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
