This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Chinese-style Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans are a delicious way to enjoy restaurant-style green beans! Chinese restaurants will typically flash fry their green beans to get that signature blistered effect, but this dry fry method uses less oil but achieves a very similar effect. Toss with tons of fresh garlic and you have an extremely delicious side dish that pairs well with pretty much anything! I hope you enjoy!
Watch the Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans Recipe Video Below!
Ingredient Tips for Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans
These Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans are a perfect side that goes with some many dishes! You only need a couple ingredients to make perfect green beans. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Green Beans – After washing, I like to trim both ends by 1/8″ – this gives the green beans that ‘restaurant’ quality look!
- Garlic
- Salt
- Sugar
- White Pepper – I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)
- MSG (optional)
- Neutral Oil – My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.
Cooking these Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans in a hot wok or pan with very little oil will still achieve a beautiful blistered texture while still keeping the green beans crisp!
Recipe Tips for Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans
DRY FRYING
- Dry frying is a technique where you use little or no oil and heat your wok (or pan) over high heat until you start seeing smoke. You’ll sear your green beans until they’re blistered – they will have a beautifully charred and smokey texture while still remaining crisp without having to deep fry.
MIND THE GARLIC!
- After you cook your green beans, be extra mindful of the heat to ensure that you do not burn your garlic! Chopped garlic can go from cooked to burned very quickly, so it’s important you keep a close eye! The garlic will continue to cook from the residual heat once mixed in with the green beans, so you only need to fry for a few seconds!
Cooking With a Wok (Alternatives)
By now, you know that I LOVE cooking with my carbon steel wok! It is my #1 most recommended kitchen tool, as I believe it is perfect for high-heat cooking and results in restaurant quality Chinese food!
If it is your first time cooking with a wok, make sure to read my “How To Season a Wok” post. There is a video included that shows exactly how to season your brand new wok and how to maintain it so it lasts for years.
If you cannot or do not want to use a wok, you can use a large pan, cast iron, or even a dutch oven.
My KEY TIP would be to avoid crowding your pan – crowding can lead to your Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans not cooking thoroughly and becoming mushy. If you think your dish will be crowded, use a larger pan, cast iron, or dutch oven, OR cook in batches.
If you tried this Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Chinese Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans, washed and trimmed
- 1.5 tbsp neutral oil, (I prefer avocado, but vegetable, peanut, or canola work here)
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- salt, to taste
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp msg
Instructions
- In 1 tbsp of oil over medium high heat, add your green beans and toss to coat in the oil (the pan should be relatively dry). Stir fry for 3-4 minutes until the green beans are slightly charred but still crisp and remove from the pan.
- In the same pan, add 1/2 tbsp oil and fry garlic over medium heat until fragrant (do not brown).
- Add the green beans, salt and white pepper and msg. Stir fry and mix for another 30 seconds over high heat and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these last night and the green beans were better than the ones on menu at a very popular restaurant in San Francisco! Delicious, flavorful and so quick and easy to prepare. My Mom ask me if I made them , truly restaurant quality at a fraction of the cost. Thank you for my now go to recipe for dry fried green beans!
Thank you so much, Sherri!
I love this recipe!
I love these green beans! So delicious. Just like my local restaurant.
I’ve been looking for recipes to follow my keto diet. And this recipe caught my eye!!! It looked fairly simple. Green beans, garlic, oil, and salt (not a big fan of pepper and didn’t have MSG in my pantry) when I finally got a taste of my dish, I couldn’t believe how delicious it was. So simple, so tasty, what more could you ask for?? 5/5 would def make again.