Garlic Chili Crunch Green Beans

If you're looking for an easy green bean side dish that's packed with bold flavor, these Garlic Chili Crunch Green Beans are the perfect recipe. Fresh green beans are blistered in a hot Joyce Chen Classic Series 12" Carbon Steel Stir Fry Pan until charred and crisp-tender, then tossed in a savory garlic chili crunch sauce made with soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Ready under 20 minutes, this sir-fried green beans recipe is the perfect side or grilled chicken, steak, seafood, tofu, or steamed rice, making it a delicious addition to any weeknight dinner or backyard barbecue. 

Ingredients 

1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed

2 tablespoons oil (avocado or vegetable)

5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons chili crunch (chili crisp)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

0.5 teaspoons sugar

2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

Steps 

1. Prep beans and sauce: Wash and thoroughly dry 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed — water on the beans will cause the hot oil to splatter. Set aside. Mix 2 tablespoons chili crunch (chili crisp), 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, and 0.5 teaspoons sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Heat the wok: Heat your Joyce Chen 12” Carbon Steel Stir Fry Pan over high heat for 2 minutes until it just begins to smoke. Add 2 tablespoons of oil (avocado or vegetable) and swirl to coat.
3. Blister the beans: Add 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed in a single layer. Let them sit undisturbed for 1-5 minutes to blister, then toss and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally, until charred in spots and tender crisp. 
4. Add garlic: Push the beans to the side of the wok. Add 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, to the center and stir-fry for 30-40 seconds until fragrant and lightly golden. 
5. Toss with sauce: Pour the sauce over everything and toss to coat. Cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until the sauce is absorbed and glossy. 
6. Garnish and serve: Transfer to a serving plate and top with 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish) and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish). Serve immediately. 

Notes: 

Made in the Joyce Chen Classic Series 12” Carbon Steel Stir Fry Pan  — carbon steel gets screaming hot fast, which is exactly what you need to blister green beans without steaming them. The more you cook with it, the better the seasoning becomes.

The key to great stir-fried green beans is a very hot pan and NOT overcrowding. If your beans are piled on top of each other, they’ll steam instead of blister. Cook in two batches if needed.

Make it a meal: serve over steamed jasmine rice or alongside grilled chicken or tofu.