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These spicy Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans are the perfect side dish and a great way to make Chinese takeout right at home.
This recipe was originally posted in March 2017. It has been updated for content and photos. For a good laugh, scroll down below the recipe card and check out the old photo – it’s awful!
Stir fried in coconut oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chili sauce and tongue numbing Sichuan peppercorns, these green beans are perfectly spicy and packed with flavor.
The Sichuan peppercorns give the dish a citrusy tongue numbing quality, while the chili garlic sauce adds spice and flavor. This really is an incredible green bean recipe. Read more about Sichuan peppercorns.
Plus, these stir fry green beans are incredibly easy to make and a great addition to your homemade Chinese takeout meal.
The Ingredients for Stir Fry Green Beans
You will need soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ginger, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns. The green beans are fried in coconut oil with these ingredients until tender.
While the recipe calls for coconut oil, you can substitute duck fat, canola or vegetable oil, avocado oil, lard or any other high smoke point oil. Buy the coconut oil HERE on Amazon (affiliate link).
What are Sichuan Peppercorns?
Sichuan (Szechuan) peppercorns are a spice that is grown in the Sichuan province of China. Many people associate them with spicy food, but they actually are not spicy. They have slightly citrusy undertones and a numbing quality and are typically used in spicy dishes like this Mapo Tofu. Buy Sichuan peppercorns HERE on Amazon (affiliate link).
What is Chili Garlic Sauce?
Chili garlic sauce is a sauce typically made from chilies, vinegar, garlic and salt. It is a spicy condiment used often in Chinese cooking. Buy chili garlic sauce HERE on Amazon (affiliate link).
Step By Step Instructions
You can make this recipe in a wok or in a large pot. I used a large pot as I don’t have a lid for my wok (yes, you need a pan with a lid). You can also use a large cast iron skillet or dutch oven. So basically, you can use any large pot with a lid!
Start by toasting the Sichuan peppercorns over medium heat in a skillet, stirring often to prevent burning. Once they become fragrant, remove them from the heat.
Using a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, grind the peppercorns. Set them aside.
Remove all the stems from the green beans and rinse them in cold water. Heat the coconut oil over medium heat in a large pot or wok and add the green beans.
Cook them for about 8 minutes, stirring periodically.
Add the ginger, garlic and ground Sichuan peppercorns and cook until the garlic and ginger is light brown (about 1-2 minutes). Stir often to prevent the garlic and ginger from burning.
Add the soy sauce, salt and chili garlic sauce and stir to combine. Cover and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent burning. Reduce the heat if the chili starts to burn.
Remove from heat and serve. Scroll down for some more Chinese dishes to serve these with.
Expert Tips
- You can use a wok, large skillet, dutch oven or a large pot to cook these green beans. Just make sure whatever pot you use has a lid.
- Substitute the coconut oil with duck fat, canola or vegetable oil, lard, avocado oil or any other high smoke point oil.
- Stir the green beans often while cooking to prevent them from burning.
- For a spicier dish, add 1-2 diced Thai chilies or other hot pepper.
- For a mild dish, reduce the amount of chili garlic sauce used.
More Chinese Takeout Style Recipes
It’s fun to make your own Chinese takeout at home. Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients (many Chinese ingredients are available on Amazon), all these dishes are pretty easy to make.
- Chinese BBQ Pork;
- Shrimp Lo Mein;
- Mapo Tofu;
- Twice Cooked Pork;
- Mongolian Beef;
- Browse all the Chinese Recipes.
Reader’s Favorite Vegetables Recipes
As you all know. I’m a pretty big fan of cooking meaty main dishes. However, a well seasoned and cooked vegetable dish is just incredible. Below are some of the reader’s favorite recipes.
- Sauteed Broccolini;
- Korean Cauliflower Wings;
- Oven Fried Squash;
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus;
- Browse all the Vegetable Recipes.
Did you make these sichuan green beans? Rate the recipe and leave a comment to let me know how they turned out!
Spicy Chinese Stir Fry Green Beans
Ingredients
- 16 ounces green beans ends removed
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns toasted and ground (see instructions below)
- 2 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt (add more to taste if desired)
Instructions
- Toast the Sichuan peppercorns in a skillet over medium heat, stirring often. Once they are fragrant remove them from the skillet.
- Using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind the toasted Sichuan Peppercorns.
- Heat the coconut oil over medium heat in a wok or large pot with a lid.
- Add the green beans and cook for 8 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
- Add the ginger, garlic and ground Sichuan peppercorns and cook until the garlic and ginger is light brown (about 1-2 minutes). Stir often to prevent the garlic and ginger from burning.
- Add the soy sauce, salt and chili garlic sauce and stir to combine. Cover and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent burning. Reduce the heat if the chili starts to burn.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Expert Tips:
- You can use a wok, large skillet, dutch oven or a large pot to cook these green beans. Just make sure whatever pot you use has a lid.
- Substitute the coconut oil with duck fat, canola or vegetable oil, lard, avocado oil or any other high smoke point oil.
- Stir the green beans often while cooking to prevent them from burning.
- For a spicier dish, add 1-2 diced Thai chilies or other hot pepper.
- For a mild dish, reduce the amount of chili garlic sauce used.
Nutrition
Yum! We loved this as a change from our regular green bean recipes. Delish!
That’s great to hear!
Wow, these were exactly what you can get from a restaurant! Loved that I was able to take your advice and cut back on the chili garlic sauce and even my picky teenager loved it.
So glad you enjoyed them!
Great recipe, simple to make and so flavorful. Perfect when you have a garden overflowing with beans.
Definitely!
THIS LOOKS LIKE A REALLY DELICIOUS NEW WAY FOR ME TO TRY COOKING GREEN BEANS. THANKS! PINNING TO TRY SOON.
Totally!
I love these green beans at the restaurants. They are so spicy and flavorful. I can’t wait to try to make this at home.
Hope you love them 🙂
Yum! My whole family loved this delicious side. It was super easy and so tasty!
So glad you liked it!
OMG these are delicious! Thank you!