Chinese Spicy Green Beans are full of savory and piquant flavors. All you need is 15 quick minutes to make this flavorful Asian side dish just like they serve in Chinese Buffets restaurants.
Our family LOVES these delicious Chinese Spicy Green Beans. They are super easy to make at home. You will love this healthy and addictive yummy recipe. These green beans pair so well with Vegetable Lo Mein Noodles or Vegetable Fried Rice for a better than carryout meal at home.
This delicious green beans skillet stir fry is low-carb, Keto, low-glycemic, gluten-free and vegan! These tender crisp and delicious green beans can be served as an appetizer, side dish or light lunch.
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Asian Spicy Green Beans
Have you tried Spicy Green Beans at PF Chang’s or Wok n Fire restaurants? These beans are usually listed under side dishes but we have been ordering them as an appetizer. And we often get two orders ( because we just love them).
They finish in no time. But lately with mindful eating practice and allergy restrictions, our dinner outings and take outs have substantially reduced. But I really miss those spicy green beans.
So I prefer to cook these simple dishes at home often. I don’t personally know anyone working in these restaurants so I will not call it copycat recipes. But the flavor combinations that I am making does come super close to what we loved there.
Easy Chinese Side Dish
I prefer to use all “easy to pronounce” healthy ingredients while making delicious Chinese food at home. That in turn helps to save on unnecessary calories as well. You control what goes in your recipes and feel good about feeding your body delicious food.
This recipe is pretty simple and easy to make at home. On your next grocery trip, don’t forget to pick up some green beans . Whip up the sauce and your tasty side dish is ready!! Quick, healthy and yummy.
Which Green Beans Work For This Recipe?
I am using “Haricot Vert” or French green beans for this recipe. These beans look delicate and have tender texture. But regular green beans also work perfectly . Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Serving Ideas
Chinese Spicy Green Beans would make a great side for Super delicious Asian Vegetable Schezwan Rice or Thai Curry Fried Rice. These Asian rice dishes are easy to put together and one of our most liked recipes on the blog.
You can also pair it with Chili Garlic Noodles or Stir Fry Rice Noodles. Both these dishes are gluten free and healthy. They also make a perfect weeknight quick dinner more interesting and exotic.
Many times, instead of traditional green beans casserole, I make these Spicy Szechuan green beans for holiday dinner. They are super hit with our guests.
How To Make Spicy Sauce
- Liquid Coconut Amino : I prefer Coconut Amino over regular soy sauce. Liquid Coconut Amino is soy- and gluten-free way to add pleasant savory flavor to dishes. It also has less sodium than soy sauce. It also contains 17 amino acids and is rich in B-vitamins. A perfect choice for people with allergies or food sensitivities.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a unique flavor to Asian inspired dishes. It is a mellow vinegar with tiny hint of a sweet flavor. You can find it locally in most grocery stores in the Asian food aisle as well as on Amazon. Keep a bottle on hand, it has a wonderful flavor.
- You can use other vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower or potatoes instead of green string beans to make this recipe.
Ingredients
Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s what you need and easy substitutes
- French green beans-trimmed and ends cut : use tender, fresh French style green beans. I have not tried this recipe using frozen green beans.
- Garlic : Freshly minced preferred. Garlic Powder is best substitute.
- sesame oil : adds that classic restaurant style taste. You can also use other cooking oils like olive oil, canola oil or butter if necessary.
- liquid coconut amino or low sodium dark soy sauce or tamari
- rice vinegar or lemon juice
- Flour / Corn Starch : You can use corn starch or rice flour to make the sauce stick to the beans. If you want to use low carb option, substitute almond flour.
- Raw sugar : Just a teaspoon of it helps bring all the tangy flavors blend together.
- Chili Sauce : Use Sambal Oelek or any chili garlic sauce . Skip if you want to avoid hot spicy taste.
- Sesame Seeds for garnish.
- Ground black pepper, red pepper flakes – per taste
- Salt – optional. The store brought sauces have high amount sodium. So you might not need to add additional salt in this recipe. Use it per taste preference.
Instructions
In a large skillet or wok , warm up the oil on medium high heat. Add green beans and toss well. Add 1 tablespoon water. Cover and let them cook for about 3-4 minutes. Remove cover and stir well – green beans start to soften.
In the meantime, whisk together corn starch or ( almond or rice flour) , liquid coconut amino, chili sauce, raw sugar and black pepper in a small bowl to make a tangy sauce.
Add minced garlic to the pan /wok, stir frequently to prevent burning. Add rice vinegar and deglaze the pan/ wok by scraping the bottom.
Add the sauce and mix well. The corn starch / rice flour thickens quickly so keep stirring frequently. When green beans are as soft as you’d like them ( about 4 minutes) turn off the heat. Remove from the pan.
Let’s not forget those remaining bits of burnt garlic at the bottom of the pan. They are super flavorful, crunchy and bit burnt. Do add them while serving for a huge flavor! Garnish the beans with sesame seeds, red chili flakes. Serve and enjoy!
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Spicy Green Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound French green beans trimmed and ends cut
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chili sauce – adjust per spice tolerance
- ¼ cup liquid coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Raw Sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon corn starch/ or rice flour / or almond flour
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
- Salt – adjust per taste
- ⅛ teaspoon Red Pepper flakes Optional-adjust per spice level
Instructions
- In a large skillet or wok , warm up the oil. Add green beans and toss well. Add a tablespoon of water. Cover and let them cook for about 3-4 minutes. Remove cover and stir well – green beans start to soften.
- In the meantime, whisk together corn starch or rice flour or almond flour, liquid coconut amino, chili sauce, raw sugar and black pepper to make a tangy sauce.
- Add minced garlic to the pan /wok, stir frequently to prevent burning. Add rice vinegar and deglaze the pan/ wok by scraping the bottom.
- Add the prepared sauce and mix well. The corn starch / rice flour thickens quickly so keep stirring frequently. When green beans are as soft as you'd like them ( about 4 minutes) turn off the heat. Remove from pan.
- Scoop up the remaining bits of garlic at the bottom of the pan when serving- it packs a huge flavor! Garnish the beans with sesame seeds, ground black pepper and red chili flakes. Serve and enjoy!
Trisha
Absolutely delicious!
CathyG
How much chili sauce? Don’t see that listed in ingredients.
admin
1 teaspoon chili sauce. Will add in the list
CathyG
And the sugar is added to the sauce ingredients? I had to make a couple of substitutions & guessed at the chili sauce so added a little extra. 😊 While I’m usually a southern green bean cook, I had purchased long asparagus beans at our farmers market & was told they could get tough if cooked too long. So decided to try this recipe. We enjoyed it for a change. Thanks for your response.
admin
Yes sugar is added in the sauce. Thank you for trying out the recipe. So glad to hear you enjoyed it