I am in love with this Stir Fry Green Beans because of the way the ingredients and spices melding together resulting to an awesome flavors and textures.
These Fried Green Beans with Bacon are loaded with savory, sweet and a bit spicy kick that makes this Stir Fry a tasty side dish and so great when eaten with lots of rice.
The fragrant aroma will tantalize the family and the taste will have them asking for seconds! Side dishes complete a meal. This Cantonese classic is made with thin Chinese green beans that deliver a satisfying crunch when bit into.
Fairly fresh beans make this recipe taste even better! Ask your local grocer and specialty market when the beans are available to buy. You may also find them at a Farmers Market. They are often available in bundles with a length of 12 to 30 inches long.
Don’t worry, there’s no need to rush out and get a super-sized skillet! The nickname of Chinese long beans was earned for their length – some varieties exceed a yard in length.
How to choose the green beans
The beans are usually harvested before they mature. Choose young beans that:
Are flexible. Don’t look dry. Have no black spots.
Although part of recent popular cuisine in the West Indies, Mediterranean area, and United States, these flavorful bean pods have been an important food source in part of Africa and the Orient for thousands of years.
Part of its popularity is earned because it holds up to hot chilies and spices while delivering hearty bites and a chewy texture.
Also known as Chinese snake beans, the blue to violet flowers produce pencil thin pods between two to four weeks after flowering. Some of the pods are left on the vine to mature and dry for next year’s seeds.
Keep track of harvest time for Chinese long beans in your area. Young beans are typically available in July.
This low-calorie veggie has a good supply of fiber, minerals, and vitamins. It’s a good feeling to know you are serving a delicious, healthy side dish to your family, friends, and yourself!
Do I need to blanch the green beans?
On this recipe, there's no need to blanch the green beans as we will be adding water and chicken stock to cook the green beans. The sauce is the main flavor booster here.
Reheating leftover
If you have leftover, you can just throw them back in a skillet and gently reheat them in low fire. No need to add some oil as they already have enough cooking fat from bacon. Make sure not to over cooked them, just barely reheat them and they're ready to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans
- 3 slices of bacon or your choice of meat - try this Char Siu recipe cut into bite size.
- ¼ cup Chicken stock
- 2 tablespoon Toban Jiang Chili Bean Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar (just reduce the amount of sugar if you don't like sweet)
- ½ cup water
- 4-5 cloves of garlic finely chopped
- 1 medium shallot
For the sauce:
Step by step instructions
① Trim the end of the green beans, and chop them in half (optional - but it's easier to munch) and cut bacon into bite sizes. Set aside.
② Prep the sauce. Mix the sauce ingredients and set aside.
③ Heat the wok and fry the bacon. Cook the bacon until the edges are a bit crispy while releasing enough oil. Add the chopped garlic and shallots and stir fry for 30 seconds.
④ Before the shallots and garlic get burned, pour the sauce mixture and stir for 30 seconds. Then add the green beans.
⑤ Add the chicken stock and mix well. Cover with lid and let it steam for 10 minutes or until beans are tender crisp. Take off the lid.
⑥ Stir fry until the sauce thickens a bit and you're done. Serve over jasmine rice.
Notes
1.) You don't need to blanch the green beans as they will be cooked shortly after adding the chicken stock.
2.) It's so easy to reheat the leftover dish, just throw them back into a skillet and heat them gently until barely reheated and its good to go.
Other recipes:
Full Recipe
Fried Green Beans with Bacon
Ingredients:
- 1 lb green beans
- 3 slices of bacon or your choice of meat - try this Char Siu recipe cut into bite size.
- ¼ cup Chicken stock
Sauce ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon Toban Jiang Chili Bean Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar reduce the amount of sugar if you don't like sweet
- ½ cup water
- 4-5 cloves of garlic finely chopped
- 1 medium shallot
Instructions:
Prep the Green Beans:
- Chop the green beans in half (optional - but it's easier to munch) and cut bacon into bite sizes. Set aside.
Sauce:
- Mix the sauce ingredients and set aside.
Cook the Beans:
- Heat the wok and fry the bacon. Cook the bacon until the edges are a bit crispy while releasing enough oil. Add the chopped garlic and shallots and stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Before the shallots and garlic get burned, pour the sauce mixture and stir for 30 seconds. Then add the green beans.
- Add the chicken stock and mix well. Cover with lid and let it steam for 10 minutes or until beans are tender crisp. Take off the lid.
- Stir fry until the sauce thickens a bit and you're done. Serve over jasmine rice.
Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Frances Jane says
My husband loves these fried green beans.. they're so flavorful and the sauce is the bomb when you add it to rice.
Diane C says
Perfect side dish for week night dinner !! Yes, please.
Tiffany B. says
I tried this side dish and it's so yummy.. I ate extra rice :), my hubby loves it too.
Patricia Merrell says
I love this recipe. It's super easy to make and my family loves it. I tried this twice already and it's always a hit. Thank you for sharing.
Korina L says
Love, love this side dish, its a great addition to my recipe. These flavors with Toban jian is the bomb.
Cora Dupras says
I love a quick stir fry although Im a vegan, I can take off the bacon and add some mushrooms or tofu.
Susan Roesler says
Oh my!! I'm drooling.. I so love this side dish. Thanks God we're so blessed with so much green beans this season.. I can create this later. Thanks for sharing.
Bernice Ayers says
Yes!! Please. I love the savory flavor of this side dish. I can smell the aroma of sweetness and spiciness of this recipe.. This will be included on my list tomorrow.
Ginger Sorensen says
I need to add this to my list of things to try out. I actually never fully understood how to pick out bean so this is great! Thanks for sharing with such great detail.
Hey Sharonoox says
You had me at green beans! I love a good stir fry beans and this is just right down my alley. This looks so yummy it's making me hungry now. Thanks for the recipe!
Wander With Ola says
Oh my! I LOVE Stir Fry Green Beans and this looks absolutely delicious!
Suzanne says
Such great flavors! I bet the smokiness is amazing with the green beans 🙂
Momina Arif says
This recipe is great although I'm a vegan. Maybe I'll just skip the bacon an have the beans.
LavandaMichelle says
What a nice post! These look so good. This sounds like a great way to make sure the kids eat their veggies. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Stephanie Parrell says
This looks really tasty! A great combo of salty and healthy!
Heather says
I don't eat meat anymore BUT I'm a HUGE fan of stir fry. I'm going to try this (as a vegetarian dish)
Patricia-Ann Que says
stir fry is a favorite in my household being asian! love that they are healthy and easy to prep up! sometimes i add some chilli flakes with this!
Kiwi says
I would have to eat these string beans without the bacon. I am sorry I havent ate pork in years.
Stephanie Jeannot says
That looks and sounds like a delicious meal. I never knew how to pick green beans or how to tell they were mature. Good to know.
Shanab says
This stir fry looks so delicious and healthy as well. I'm not a fan of bacon but I'm sure it would taste great even without.
Rachel says
Mmmm looks and sounds super tasty! I just ended up ruining my dinner so this is looking so good right now!
Cris says
This looks so so delicious! I'm at work right now, and really starving!!!
Cassie says
Wow this sounds so goo! I definitely need to make this
Connie R says
I love the savory flavor of this dish, this will be a great addition on my side dishes. Extra rice will be appreciated 🙂
Cynthia Hendley says
I would love to try this recipe.. looks so yum and tasty. I just need to grab the Toban Jiang then and my ingredients are ready. Can't wait.
Jessica Bell says
This is one recipe I tried from your blog and I got addicted. Indeed, this is addictively delicious and my husband loves it. I like a bit of spiciness and the bit of sweetness in this recipe, plus adding the bacon just made it as a winner. Soo good!!