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Restaurant-Style Chinese Green Beans with Garlic Sauce

Close-up of vibrant, blistered chinese green beans with garlic sauce piled in a white bowl.
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Make these blistered green beans with a punchy garlic soy sauce right at home. This recipe delivers that perfect charred texture you love from your favorite takeout spot.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 3 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 (optional, for color)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons water or vegetable broth

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce (if using), sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
  2. Heat the wok or large skillet over high heat until it is very hot. Add the neutral oil. The oil should shimmer immediately.
  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 achieve blistering and charring.
  4. Toss the green beans and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until they are tender-crisp and have developed 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.
  7. Pour the prepared sauce mixture and the water or vegetable broth into the wok. Toss everything quickly to coat the beans evenly. Cook for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beans.
  8. Remove from heat and serve immediately as a great chinese side dish or vegan chinese side.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can substitute the water with vegetable broth.
  • If you do not have a wok, a heavy-bottomed skillet works well for achieving the blistered green beans texture.
  • If you want a spicier kick, consider adding a teaspoon of chili bean paste (Doubanjiang) with the garlic.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/chinese-green-beans-with-garlic-sauce-2/