How to Cook Chinese Green Beans (6 Steps)

Is your favorite dish at the Chinese buffet always the green beans? Here's a quick guide to making these perfectly seasoned and tender green beans.

Things You'll Need

  • • 1 lb. green beans, or Chinese longbeans
  • • 1 tbsp. garlic, chopped
  • • 1 tbsp. ginger, chopped
  • • 2 scallions (spring onions, green onions), white parts only, finely chopped
  • • 1/2 tsp. chili paste
  • • 1 tbsp. dark soy sauce
  • • 1/2 tsp. sugar
  • • 1/4 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • • Pepper to taste, optional
  • • 2 tbsp. vegetable or peanut oil for stir-frying, or as needed

Instructions

  1. Wash the beans completely. Cut off the tops and bottoms of the beans until they are around 2 inches long.

  2. Chop up the garlic, ginger and scallions.

  3. Stir fry the green beans in 1 tablespoon of oil until they start to shrivel and turn brown (5 to 10 minutes).

  4. Remove the green beans and drain.

  5. Stir fry the garlic, ginger and scallions on high heat with a tablespoon of oil. Using high heat, gradually add in the chili paste and stir fry for one minute longer.

  6. Add the green beans to the stir fry mixture, along with the dark soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and serve hot.