Sesame Green Beans with Garlic - Eat the Gains (2024)

If you are looking for an easy and tasty way to make green beans, you have to try these sesame green beans!

Green beans were a staple in my family’s diet growing up. For the majority of my childhood, my parents had a huge garden in our backyard. They grew everything from spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, green beans, peas, broccoli, and zucchini.

With that being said, green beans were on the dinner table probably 3-4 times out of the week in our house during the summer. We would go out and pick some, while eating some at the same time, and bring them inside to prepare for dinner. Our way of choice was usually sautéing them with olive oil, balsamic, and garlic.

This garlic green beans recipe was inspired by the ones I enjoyed growing up but with an Asian twist! They only take 15 minutes to make from start to finish, use 8 ingredients you probably already have on hand, and are so tasty! They have quickly become a favorite in our house!

Are green beans good for you?

Green beans are a great healthy addition to any diet. They are low in calories, contain vitamin K, manganese, folate, calcium, and potassium, and also have a good amount of fiber and even some protein. Bonus, they are an inexpensive and easy veggie to find.

Ingredients

• olive oil
• fresh green beans
• coconut aminos
• fresh garlic
• ground ginger
• sesame oil
• sesame seeds
• salt and pepper

How to make sesame green beans

1. Wash and trim your green beans.
2. Cook green beans.Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add oil and let it get hot. Add green beans, cover with lid, and let cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Season green beans.Add minced garlic, coconut aminos, sesame oil, ground ginger, salt, and pepper to the pan and stir to combine. Let cook for 2-3 more minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender and cooked to your preference. Remove from heat and add sesame seeds. Toss to combine.
4. Enjoy!Serve as an easy side dish and enjoy!

Do I have to blanch my green beans?

Blanching is a process where you quickly cook veggies in boiling water. It is then immediately followed by a cooling process in ice water to stop the cooking. While you can do this, I find the extra step is not necessary and you can still get tender, crispy, and flavorful green beans on the stovetop.

How long to saute green beans

How long you saute your green beans will depend on the texture you like once cooked. If you like them with a little crunch and al dente, then 5-8 minutes should be plenty of time. If you like them a little softer, try 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, they should still have a bright green color and not be limp.

Storage

• refrigerator– if you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely (so no moisture forms) and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• freezer– I have not tried freezing this recipe, but it would work. Allow green beans to cool completely and freeze in astorage bagfor up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.

More easy vegetable side dishes

• air fryer carrots
• parmesan roasted parsnips
• crispy baked potato wedges
• air fryer brussel sprouts
• grilled cabbage steaks

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!