
These Chinese Green Beans are a quick and flavorful side dish with crisp-tender green beans tossed in a fragrant mixture of shallots, garlic, ginger, and a touch of mirin.

Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re the perfect easy vegetable side to pair with everything from stir-fries and grilled meats to your favorite takeout-inspired dinners.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- Ready in under 30 minutes for a quick and easy side dish.
- Restaurant-quality flavor made with simple pantry ingredients.
- Pairs with almost any main course, from chicken and beef to pork, seafood, and tofu.
- One-pan recipe means minimal cleanup.
- Customizable—add chili flakes, soy sauce, or a drizzle of sesame oil for even more flavor.

Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
12 minutes
Yield:
Serves 4

Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 pound green beans, rinsed, and dried
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 shallots diced
- 2 teaspoons mirin sauce
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.
Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1:
I trimmed the ends off my green beans.

STEP 2:
I heated some vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and added my green beans to the pan.
I cooked the green beans for about 12 minutes and seasoned them with salt and pepper.
I removed the cooked green beans from the skillet and set them aside.

STEP 3:
I reduced the heat and added some diced shallots, garlic and ginger to the skillet.
I stirred well and cooked the shallots for about 5 minutes.
I added some mirin sauce and continued cooking for 1 minute.


STEP 4:
I placed my green beans on a serving dish and topped them with the mirin sauce mixture.
I also sprinkled sesame seeds on top.

Every bite is packed with crisp-tender green beans coated in fragrant garlic, ginger, and sweet-savory mirin, finished with the subtle crunch of toasted sesame seeds.

It’s the kind of fresh, flavorful side dish that disappears from the table quickly and has everyone reaching for just one more helping.

If you are looking for a simple but flavourful side dish recipe, then you need to try these Chinese Green Beans!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What can I substitute for mirin sauce?
- If you don’t have mirin sauce, you can use a combination of rice vinegar and sugar as a substitute. Mix 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar with 1 teaspoon of sugar to replicate the mild sweetness of mirin.
Can I use a different type of oil instead of vegetable oil?
- While vegetable oil is commonly used in Chinese cooking, you can substitute it with other neutral oils such as canola oil or peanut oil.
Can I omit the toasted sesame seeds?
- Yes, you can omit the toasted sesame seeds if you prefer. They add a nice nutty flavor and a bit of crunch to the dish, but the recipe will still taste delicious without them.
Chinese Green Beans
These Chinese Green Beans are a quick and flavorful side dish with crisp-tender green beans tossed in a fragrant mixture of shallots, garlic, ginger, and a touch of mirin.
Ready in under 30 minutes, they're the perfect easy vegetable side to pair with everything from stir-fries and grilled meats to your favorite takeout-inspired dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, rinsed, and dried
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 shallots diced
- 2 teaspoons mirin sauce
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim off the ends of the green beans.
- Heat your skillet over medium-high heat, adding the vegetable oil.
- Add the green beans to the pan, and cook for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Salt and pepper to taste and remove the green beans for the skillet, reserve
- Reduce heat and toss in the diced shallots, garlic and ginger in the same skillet. Cook for 5 minutes and give them a gentle stir, allowing them to soften.
- Add the mirin sauce, continue cooking for 1 minutes.
- Transfer the green beans to a serving plate and pour the mirin sauce mixture on top.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Serve Immediately, Chinese Green Beans are best enjoyed immediately after cooking. Serve them hot as a side dish.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g

This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

