These easy Stir Fried Green Beans with Ginger and Garlic are a quick and easy versatile side that goes with so many main courses. It is the perfect accompaniment for chicken, fish, beef and pork. I love to serve it with Beef Bulgogi (Korean Beef) and Grilled Marinated Chicken.
If your family is anything like mine then you are always looking for new original ways to serve the same old vegetables. Have you ever tried stir-fried Chinese green beans? They are amazingly simple and so full of flavor. Included is a five-ingredient stir fry sauce that kind of sears into the green beans in the last minute or so of cooking.
How do You Make Stir Fried Green Beans?
First, you are going to prep your green beans by washing, trimming both ends and cutting the beans in bite-size pieces. Dry the beans well so they crisp up a little bit during the first few minutes of cooking. Grab a small bowl and mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, water, brown sugar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper.
Heat a little bit of oil over medium-high heat in a wok or large skillet. The oil should be very hot and just starting to smoke. Carefully add the green beans and cook for about two minutes stirring constantly. Now turn the heat down to low and add the garlic and ginger. Cook for one minute, stirring frequently. Add the soy sauce mixture and turn the heat up to medium letting the sauce sear into the green beans. Cook for about two minutes stirring constantly so nothing burns.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Green Beans and Haricots Verts (French style green beans) work best for this recipe.
- Use an oil with a high smoking point like canola, vegetable or safflower.
- If available, use fresh ginger. It really is worth the added expense and effort.
- Make sure you decrease your heat to low before adding the garlic and ginger as you do not want to burn them. Garlic turns very bitter if burnt.
- These beans are crisp tender. If you want them more tender then simply add one tablespoon of water to the skillet and put a lid on the pan. Cook them until the water is gone. This will take about two minutes and should be done right after you stir fry them but before you add the minced garlic and ginger.
Other stir fry recipes you will love!
- Easy Basic Chicken Stir Fry
- The Best Spicy Beef Pepper Stir Fry
- Ginger Chicken Stir Fry
- Ramen Stir Fry
- Mongolian Chicken
- Chicken Fried Rice
Stir Fried Green Beans with Ginger and Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 lb. green beans trimmed and cut in 1 1/2 lengths
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes see notes
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
Instructions
- In a small bowl and mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, water, brown sugar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper.
- Heat oil over medium high heat in a wok or large skillet. The oil should be very hot and just starting to smoke. Add the green beans and cook for 2 minutes; stirring constantly. Turn the heat to low. Add the garlic and ginger; cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add soy sauce mixture and turn the heat up to medium; cook for 2 minutes stirring frequently.
Notes
- Crushed red pepper adds a little heat. Add less if you are sensitive to it more if you love the heat.
- Green Beans and Haricots Verts (French style green beans) work best for this recipe.
- Use an oil with a high smoking point like canola, vegetable or safflower.
- If available use fresh ginger. It really is worth the added expense and effort.
- Make sure you decrease your heat to low before adding the garlic and ginger as you do not want to burn them. Garlic turns very bitter if burnt.
- These beans are crisp tender. If you want them more tender than simply add one tablespoon of water to the skillet and put a lid on the pan. Cook them until the water is gone. This will take about two minutes and should be done right after you stir fry them but before you add the minced garlic and ginger.
Nutrition
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Dave Jordan
Thourghally enjoyable beans. Easy to make and very tasty, a great addition to our Roast Pork!!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! Thanks Dave! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Kay
Had a bag of frozen beans in the freezer for ages, they were just so bland! I finally found your recipe to make them a lot tastier! We used some chilli puree for extra spice!
Toni
This is such a great side dish! I love that it is really tasty!
Angela
I am always looking for ways to dress up our nightly veggies. My family loved this recipe. So easy and so tasty!
Bintu
Such a tasty idea for a side dish and the ginger and garlic is a winning flavour combination! Delicious.
Alisa Infanti
This is a great weeknight side and so tasty!
Linda Helm
I have made this recipe with chicken as well. SO good! i usually quick blanch my green beans, dry and then add to the mix. Just a little chicken breast adds protein to the meal. We had friends from Taiwan who used to make this regularly at their small restaurant and it was always my FAVE! Thanks Jimmy and Joanna!
Erin
I’m drooling this is everything I love!
Melanie
Looks really good! Such a great addition on the table, need to make this!
Michelle
This is perfect, my exact favorite type of recipe. I can actually just have this as a meal.
Steph
Green beans are my family’s favorite and they LOVED the garlic on these!
Catalina
This is the perfect side dish! My whole family will love it!