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Chinese-style Green Beans with Shallots and Garlic

These Chinese-style green beans with shallots and garlic make for an easy but flavorful dish. The combination of crunchy green beans and a generous amount of garlic results in a light and healthy side dish.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: chinese style green beans with garlic, easy garlic green beans, garlic string beans recipe, green beans with shallots and garlic, sauteed chinese green beans
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 105kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound green beans
  • 6 large cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt plus more to taste
  • 1 tsp chili flakes optional
  • 2 tbsp fried shallots or substitute fresh shallots
  • 2 tsp sesame oil

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is heating up, snip off any hard ends off of the green beans and break them in half if they are too long. View Note 1 for how to prepare without blanching
  • Prepare a bowl with cold water or ice water.
  • Add the green beans to the pot and blanch for two minutes for skinny green beans or three minutes for thicker green beans. Remove immediately and shock them in the cold water so that the green retain their crispy texture.
  • In the pot or a skillet, heat up some oil. Then, add the garlic with additional oil as needed. Stir-fry until fragrant and starting to turn golden brown, about 30 seconds.
  • Add the green beans back to the wok with the salt, sesame oil, optional chili flakes, and fried shallots. Sauté together for an additional 1-2 minutes and then serve.

Notes

  1. Heat a large wok over medium-low to medium heat. Add some oil. Add the green beans and stir occasionally until tender and lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the beans and set aside.