These stir-fried green beans with hints of garlic and ginger are a quick, easy, and flavorful side dish that pairs well with many main courses. It is the perfect accompaniment for chicken, fish, beef, and pork.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Green beans: Use regular string beans or French green beans, also known as Haricots Verts.
- Soy sauce: Preferably low sodium
- Rice vinegar: Substitute champagne vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Sesame oil: It is a key ingredient that adds a lot of flavor. It will last in a cool, dark place for 8 months or in the refrigerator for up to 2 years.
- Red pepper flakes: They add just a touch of heat.
- Oil: Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, vegetable, or safflower.
- Ginger: Freshly grated or ginger paste. Ginger paste is sold in tubes in the refrigerated produce section of most grocery stores. It keeps for weeks stored in the refrigerator.
How To Make Stir-Fried Green Beans
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Mix the soy sauce, vinegar, water, brown sugar, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl.
- Cook the green beans in hot oil at medium-high heat for a few minutes.
- Add the soy sauce mixture and continue cooking until the desired tenderness. They are best crisp-tender.
- Turn the heat down to low, add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
Preparation Tips
- It really is not necessary to blanch your green beans unless you like them very soft. We prefer them crisp-tender; you can achieve fairly tender beans without blanching them.
- Reduce the heat to low before adding the garlic and ginger. Garlic turns very bitter if burnt.
- These beans are crisp tender. If you want them more tender, add 1 tablespoon of water to the skillet and cover it. Cook them until the water is gone. This will take about 2 minutes and should be done after the first stir-fry period of 2 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve this dish with beef bulgogi, bourbon chicken, and black pepper chicken. For a vegetarian meal, serve over jasmine or basmati rice with a side of cream cheese wontons.
More Stir Fry Recipes
Stir Fried Green Beans
These stir-fried green beans with hints of garlic and ginger are a quick, easy, and flavorful side dish that pairs well with many main courses.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 102kcal
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
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes see notes
- 1½ tablespoon canola oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- toasted sesame seeds optional
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.
- Add the soy sauce mixture and continue cooking for 2 minutes or until the desired tenderness. The beans are best crisp-tender.
- Turn the heat down to low, add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave for short intervals at reduced power until warm.
Nutrition
Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 801IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
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Melanie E
Green beans are one of my husbands favorite vegetables and one we don’t eat often enough. We normally eat them with garlic so adding ginger was such a pleasant experience. Thanks for the recipe, Beth.
Julie
I absolutely love green beans and this was such a delicious and simple way to eat them! Thank you for sharing your side dish recipe. We love them!
Catherine
I made these for dinner and they turned out really good. The beans stayed crisp with lots of flavor
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Catherine!
Tammy
This was such a delicious side dish! Full of flavor and easy to make too. Pairs great with so many dishes.
Beth Pierce
I agree 100%, Tammy!
Amy
These green beans have a fantastic snap to them. The ginger and garlic provide a really nice, fresh kick that makes this such a reliable side dish for busy weeknights.
Jen
These green beans were so tasty! I loved the flavor combo of ginger and soy, I subbed avocado oil for olive oil.
Beth Pierce
Sounds like a great plan!
Haridas s
This stir fried green beans were super delicious. We loved them! Thanks for the great recipe!
Ben
This is such a great side. I served it with teriyaki chicken, and it was perfect.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ben! So happy that you liked it!