Chinese Style Green Beans

With a few simple ingredients, you can make this authentic and fragrant dish. The beans are quickly parboiled, or blanched, to retain their bright green color and nutrients. Then they are stir-fried with a little garlic and red pepper flakes for a minute or two, and finished with a Chinese touch, sesame oil.  A good source of vitamins and fiber, these green beans make for an interesting perfectly healthy vegetable dish. 


Ingredients (Serves 6 or 12 half-size)


  • 1 pound green beans, stems trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)


1. Cut the beans into 2-inch pieces. Try to make them all the same size for a uniform cooking time. Bring a large pot 3/4 full of water to a boil. Add the beans and cook until they turn bright green and are tender but still crisp, 1-3 minutes. Have a large bowl of ice water ready. When the beans are done, drain them, and plunge them into the ice water immediately to stop the cooking process. When the beans are cool, drain them again and set aside.


2. In a large, nonstick pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the beans and sauté for 1 minute. Then, add the red pepper flakes and garlic and stir for another minute. The beans will be tender and bright green when done. Drizzle a little sesame oil and season with salt. Serve immediately. Serve alongside Salmon Bowl for best flavor complements. 





Also Appropriate for Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free diets.

6 servings
 12 half- servings



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