Szechuan Green Beans

Jump to Recipe Szechuan Green Beans are crispy pan-fried beans tossed in a simple spicy sauce. They make a great side dish any time you want a veggie with an Asian twist.  If my family and I had to pick a favorite vegetable, I’m pretty confident that it would be green beans. I make them […]

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Szechuan Green Beans

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Szechuan Green Beans are crispy pan-fried beans tossed in a simple spicy sauce. They make a great side dish any time you want a veggie with an Asian twist. 

If my family and I had to pick a favorite vegetable, I’m pretty confident that it would be green beans. I make them weekly because there are so many different ways to make them. Air Fryer Green Beans make a quick easy side dish. Green Bean Salad is a great summer side dish and you can’t forget classic Southern Style Green Beans with Bacon. 

And today I am sharing another favorite way to enjoy them: Szechuan Green Beans. They are crisp, a bit spicy and are a perfect weeknight veggie side dish.

Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make them. 

Szechuan Green Beans Ingredients: 

  • GREEN BEANS: Chinese long beans are the traditional bean used in this recipe but those can be hard to find unless you have an Asian grocery store in your area. Instead, I use the regular green beans that you find in the grocery store. You must use fresh beans though. Frozen beans won’t work for this recipe.
  • OIL: Use a neutral flavored oil with a high smoke point like vegetable, canola or peanut. Don’t use olive oil to stir-fry, the smoke point is too low. 
  • SESAME OIL: This is going to add a bit of nutty flavor to the sauce. You don’t need a lot though, a little goes a long way. 
  • GARLIC: Minced fresh garlic is going to add the perfect amount of garlic flavor to these beans. 
  • SOY SAUCE: Adds umami and saltiness. 
  • GARLIC CHILI SAUCE: I use Huy Fong Garlic Chili Sauce but it has become a popular condiment in recent years so there are many different brands. You should be able to find it in the International/Asian aisle at your local grocery store. 
  • SALT
  • MIRIN: Mirin is a rice wine. If you cannot find it a dry sherry can be substituted. 
  • RICE VINEGAR: A vinegar that is made with fermented rice. It is used as a seasoning in many Asian dishes. 
  • SESAME SEEDS: Add a bit of crunchy, nuttiness to the dish. 

Step by Step Photos and Instructions: 

Szechuan Green Beans come together really quickly so it’s important to have everything ready to go as soon as you start. 

  • Heat oil in a large skillet or wok. Add beans and cook 5 – 7 or until tender crisp. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Add remaining ingredients, except sesame seeds. And cook 30 seconds.
  • Return green beans to pan and cook for 3 – 4 min.

STEP #1: Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add beans and cook, 5 – 7 minutes or until the beans start to crisp slightly. Transfer to a plate. 

STEP #2: To the same wok, add in the remaining ingredients, except sesame seeds. Cook 30 seconds or just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Return the beans to the pan and cook another 3 – 4 minutes or until the beans have softened but are still crisp. 

STEP #3: Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

Storage and Leftovers: 

Szechuan Green Beans are best served immediately and tend to get a bit rubbery when reheated. 

Recipe FAQ: 

Which oils are best for stir frying?

The best oils for stir fry cooking are those with higher smoke points. Oils like canola, peanut, grapeseed or avocado work best.

What is Mirin?

Mirin is a type of rice wine that is common in Japanese cooking. It is important to note that although they go through a similar process, mirin is different than rice wine. Mirin has a much sweeter flavor.

Looking for more vegetable side dishes? Try these:

Sautéed Broccoli is a favorite with the adults and kiddos alike!

Baked Asparagus with Breadcrumbs is an easy way to enjoy this Spring vegetable!

Have a lot of vegetables to use? Roast them! These Oven Roasted Vegetables are delicious.

Note: This recipe was originally published in 2011. The post and recipe were updated in 2023 with a new recipe, photos and nutrition information. 

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Szechuan Green Beans

Szechuan Green Beans are crispy pan-fried beans tossed in a simple spicy sauce. They make a great side dish any time you want a veggie with an Asian twist. 
Course Side Dishes
Cuisine Asian
Keyword chinese food, Food, garlic, grean beans, Recipe, sezchuan green beans, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 155kcal

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds green beans trimmed and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 – 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic chili sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons mirin wine
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • sesame seeds optional

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a wok or other large skillet over medium high heat. Cook green beans 5 – 7 minutes or until the beans start to crisp slightly. Transfer to a plate.
  • In the same pan that you cooked the beans in stir in remaining ingredients except sesame seds. Cook for 30 seconds. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Return beans to the pan and continue cooking 3 – 4 minutes or until the beans have softened slightly but are still crisp.
  • Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired and serve hot.

Notes

It’s important to watch the garlic closely as it can burn quickly. 

Nutrition information for estimation purposes only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1078mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1174IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg

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