1. About.com
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Chinese Food

Discuss in my forum

Szechuan Green Bean Recipe

User Rating 4 Star Rating (7 Reviews) Write a review

By , About.com Guide

Szechuan Green Beans

Szechuan Green Beans are "dry-fried", giving them extra tenderness without being mushy.

Rhonda Parkinson
These beans are "dry-fried," a Szechuan cooking technique that makes them extra tender. The recipe calls for Chinese longbeans, but you can use haricots verts, green beans or runner beans. The recipe normally calls for chili peppers, but I've used chili paste - feel free to substitute dried red chilis if desired. Serves 4.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound Chinese longbeans (also called yardlong beans or just longbeans)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
  • 2 scallions (spring onions, green onions), white parts only
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili paste
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Pepper to taste, optional
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil for stir-frying, or as needed

Preparation:

Wash the longbeans, drain thoroughly, and trim the tops and bottoms.
Cut the longbeans on the diagonal into slices approximately 2 inches long.
Chop the garlic, ginger and white part of the scallions.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the longbeans and stir-fry until they start to shrivel or "pucker" and turn brown (5 - 7 minutes). Remove the long beans and drain in a colander or on paper towels.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the wok on high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and scallions. Stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the chili paste and stir-fry for a few more seconds until aromatic. Add the longbeans and the remaining ingredients. Mix together and serve.
Serving suggestion: Szechuan Green Beans would make an excellent side dish to accompany Mapo Tofu.

How to Make Szechuan Green Beans - step by step photo instructions

User Reviews

 4 out of 5
, Member samandnoi

im a falang living in pattaya , im making this recipe to go with a pork curry with pickled garlic..yum yum ...my girlfriend noi will make the rice..its my turn to cook tonight i love the sweet sour and spicey tastes that rock my taste buds ..i love Thai food......im learing all the time ... i just love these chineese yard beans...i want to make my own green, red,panaeng and massaman curry paste next :-)

Write a review

4 out of 27 people found this helpful.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

See all 7 reviews

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.