This easy Sesame Green Beans recipe is the perfect way to get a Japanese-style side dish on your plate in 15 minutes or less, with just 5 ingredients! It's full of great flavor and texture.
In this easy side dish of Sesame Green Beans will become a family favorite, for sure!
Easy vegetable side dishes are the best way to get healthy food on the table fast.
I love using fresh vegetables like green beans to flavor them in different ways to change things up a bit.
These sesame green beans are the perfect veggie side dish for nearly any meal.
Fresh green beans are blanched in a pot of boiling water. They are then pan-seared in sesame oil and fresh garlic to enhance their flavor.
A bit of soy sauce finishes the dish adding a salty bite before they are removed from the heat and sprinkled with crunchy sesame seeds.
Not only are these green beans super flavorful, but they also pair with any protein or side dish making them a versatile way to get a nutrient-dense vegetable in your diet that everyone will enjoy!
Try them with some Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs and Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice for a full, tasty meal. A side of Microwave Acorn Squash is great with it too!
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Why Make This Recipe
This easy side dish is prepped and on the table in just 15 minutes or less.
You can pair garlic sesame green beans with any Japanese or Asian-inspired protein or side.
A great way to use fresh green beans that are full of fiber and nutrients.
It only takes 5 simple ingredients to make this dish which can all be found in any grocery store.
Ingredients
- Sesame Oil - You'll need some toasted sesame oil to infuse the green beans with classic sesame flavor. If you don't have any, just use olive oil or another vegetable oil.
- Fresh Green Beans - Fresh green beans are best for this recipe. You'll need to wash and trim the ends for the best results.
- Sliced Garlic - Freshly sliced garlic infuses the dish with garlic flavor that pairs well with the flavor of sesame.
- Soy Sauce - Adds a salty bite to the dish and helps bring all of the flavors together.
- Sesame Seeds - A mix of sesame seeds (white or black) is the perfect way to add even more sesame flavor, texture, and makes a great garnish.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this sesame green beans recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare the green beans: Wash the fresh green beans, then trim off the ends.
Blanch the green beans: Heat a pot of water over medium-high heat until boiling. Add the trimmed green beans to the boiling water and let them cook for 3 minutes. Remove with tongs or a slotted spoon and immediately run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Fry the green beans: Add the sesame oil to a large skillet, and heat over medium-high heat until oil is more liquid in texture. Add the blanched green beans to the hot oil along with the garlic. Saute using tongs for 4-5 minutes.
Add the soy sauce and saute for 1 more minute before removing from heat.
Garnish and serve: Remove the green beans from the pan, then plate while hot. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with your favorite dishes.
Cook's Tips
When purchasing your sesame oil, make sure it is roasted or toasted. Otherwise, the flavor of sesame will not be present in this dish.
It's important to trim the ends off of the fresh green beans as they can become tough or woody when cooked and do not digest well.
Blanching is a very important step to make sure the green beans are fully cooked on the inside and not raw when pan searing.
Make sure your garlic does not burn as it can become bitter throughout the dish.
Add soy sauce in the last minute of cooking as adding it before can cause the green beans to burn as the soy sauce will quickly evaporate.
Variations
Spice up this side by sauteing the green beans in a mix of sesame oil and hot chili oil.
Bump up the veggies by using some carrot sticks or using fresh broccoli instead of green beans.
If you don't use soy sauce, you can use tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce for the same layer of flavor.
A dash of fish sauce adds a salty layer of fish flavor that pairs well with sesame and garlic.
Use your oven to make these sesame green beans by tossing with sesame oil, and garlic and roasting in a 425F oven for 10-12 minutes. Toss with soy sauce once removed from the oven.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Store cooked and cooled sesame green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days before reheating and serving.
Freezing: Because the green beans have been blanched and fried in a skillet, they will not hold up well when frozen then thawed. Therefore, freezing is not recommended for this recipe.
FAQs
No. Frozen green beans are too mushy once thawed which will turn them into complete mush once they are cooked in the pan with garlic and oil. Fresh green beans are best for this recipe.
Yes! You can replace the green beans with fresh broccoli or carrots or any other sturdy vegetable that will hold up well to blanching and cooking in a skillet.
Absolutely! A wok is a perfect tool to make this dish if you have one as it holds heat evenly making the green beans fry without steaming when cooked quickly.
More side dish recipes
We hope that you love this tasty sesame green beans side dish! Be sure to also check out these other side dishes too!
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Sesame Green Beans
Equipment
- Saute Pan
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil or olive oil
- 1 pound 450 grams fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- 1 clove garlic sliced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds black, white or a mix
Instructions
- Heat a pan of boiling water, add the trimmed green beans and boil (blanche) for 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan or skillet, over a medium/high heat then stir in the green beans and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes or until the beans are lightly cooked.
- Stir in the soy sauce and cook for a further 1 minute, stirring.
- Serve sprinkled with the sesame seeds.
Notes
- When purchasing your sesame oil, make sure it is roasted or toasted. Otherwise, the flavor of sesame will not be present in this dish.
- It's important to trim the ends off of the fresh green beans as they can become tough or woody when cooked and do not digest well.
- Blanching is a very important step to make sure the green beans are fully cooked on the inside and not raw when pan searing.
- Make sure your garlic does not burn as it can become bitter throughout the dish.
- Add soy sauce in the last minute of cooking as adding it before can cause the green beans to burn as the soy sauce will quickly evaporate.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Liz says
I love green beans and I usually just roast them but this recipe is awesome! It's fun to have a new way to enjoy these beans!
Taryn says
These green beans had a really nice flavor. We had them as a side to baked chicken. I will make this recipe again.