If your garden has a bumper crop, these healthy, flavorful Asian Green Beans will be on your menu all summer long. This is a  super simple way to prepare sauteed green beans!

These Chinese Green Beans may not be authentic, but they’ll be a terrific new vegetable recipe to add to your menu. My family loves this fresh green bean recipe!

Asian Green Beans Recipe on a white ceramic platter.

Why You Must Make

  • This Asian green bean recipe has been in my repertoire for decades. In fact, it came from my mom. She started making these sauteed green beans with garlic the year we lived in Vancouver, B.C.
  • They’re effortless to make and the perfect side dish for a casual summer supper or an elegant dinner party. 

The key is to cook them long enough so the beans are tender and start to wilt. Best with fresh summer beans, I’ve found some fresh haricots vert at Trader Joe’s that are terrific for the offseason. I imagine they’d be darned tasty using defrosted frozen whole green beans in the winter. Note to self: try with frozen beans soon!

Ingredient Notes

  • Kitchen Staples – Olive Oil, Sugar
  • Garlic Cloves – crushed with skins removed. You can smash garlic cloves on a cutting board with the side of a chef’s knife.
  • Fresh Green Beans – See frequently asked questions below for tips
  • Soy Sauce – Kikkoman is my go-to brand
  • Dry Sherry – I use Taylor brand and store it in the refrigerator.
  • Sesame Seeds – An optional garnish. I find black sesame seeds at Penzey’s and the combination of regular sesame seeds and black makes a striking presentation.

Expert Tips

  • The key is to cook the beans long enough so the beans are tender and start to wilt.
  • This recipe is best with fresh summer beans, but I’ve found some fresh haricots vert at Trader Joe’s that are terrific for the offseason.
  • I imagine they’d be darned tasty using defrosted frozen whole green beans in the winter.
  • Sprinkling with sesame seeds is optional, but it’s a nice finishing touch when serving this for dinner guests.
Asian Green Beans overhead view in a white ceramic bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Pick the Best Fresh Green Beans?

Look at the color of the beans, the surface for discoloration, bruises, and soft spots, along with the size and shape. Do a visual inspection and buy thin bright green beans without large, bulging seeds. They shouldn’t look dehydrated and should “snap” cleanly when bent.

How Do You Saute Green Beans?

1. To shorten the cooking time, blanch your green beans first. To do this, drop the beans into a pot of salted, boiling water. Cook for 2 minutes then remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
2. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan.
3. Add aromatics like garlic, onions, or ginger and saute until fragrant.
4. Add green beans to the pan. Stir, until coated with oil and cook for another minute or two.
5. Add any liquids like sherry and/or soy sauce or just water, decrease the heat and cook uncovered until soft.

You May Also Like:

Most typically, the side dishes on our menu are uninspired. We bake potatoes, make simple rice pilaf, or cook up some fresh or frozen vegetables. But when we’re having company for dinner or celebrating a birthday or holiday, it’s time to shake up the standard routine.

These sauteed green beans only take a couple of extra minutes to throw together and will disappear quickly. Here are a few other family favorites:

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Asian green beans in a round serving bowl

Asian Green Beans

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Yield 6 servings

Garden green beans sauteed with garlic, soy and sherry for a simple side dish

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed with skins removed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans
  • 4 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • Sesame seeds, to garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add crushed garlic and cook a minute or so till fragrant.
  2. Add green beans to the pan. Stir, then cook for a couple of minutes before adding the soy sauce and sugar. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes.
  3. Add sherry, decrease heat, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until soft and wilted.
  4. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to garnish, if desired, and serve.

Notes

This recipe is also delicious with fresh asparagus.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 220mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g

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