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These Sautéed Green Beans are an easy, yet delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with almost any entree or holiday spread. This recipe combines tender green beans with toasted sesame oil, garlic, and toasted sesame seeds for a tasty complement to dinner that’s ready in 10 minutes!
Sautéed green beans are a go-to side dish when we need something healthy, flavorful, and easy on the dinner table. They’re made with just enough savory garlic, and toasted sesame seeds add the perfect crunchy texture and nutty taste. The beans are quickly cooked (blanched), so they’re still crisp and fresh-tasting, then sautéed with a nice coating of toasted sesame oil, which adds to the delicious nuttiness.
Reasons to love this recipe
- Easy to make: Sautéed green beans take very little time to prep and cook. In fact, they can be ready to serve in just about 10 minutes, from start to finish.
- Healthy: Green beans are a nutritious vegetable that makes a great addition to a healthy diet. According to Healthline, green beans are low in calories, but a good source of many essential vitamins, including folate.
- Versatile side: Once you learn this easy method of sautéing green beans, you can customize this recipe with your favorite seasonings, spices, and other additions. Plus, this side is great served alongside so many different main dishes. We love it with everything from grilled chicken and creamy pesto salmon to spaghetti casserole!
Ingredients needed
Simple, wholesome ingredients are all that’s needed to make this green bean recipe. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free. Here’s the lineup:
- Green beans: We typically use frozen green beans for this recipe, however, you can use fresh too. String beans or French haricots vert are good options, if using fresh green beans.
- Toasted sesame oil: Gives the beans a rich, nutty taste that’s totally delicious.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic, not garlic powder for the best flavor.
- Salt & pepper: A must for any veggies to really bring all of the flavors together!
- Toasted sesame seeds: Adds extra nuttiness and lovely texture.
How to make this recipe
- Prep: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl with ice and cold water next to it.
- Blanch green beans: Once bubbling, add the frozen green beans and cook for 1 minute.
- Transfer to ice: Quickly and carefully drain the beans, and place them in the prepared ice bowl. Allow it to sit in the ice water for 3-4 minutes, then drain very well and pat dry with paper towels.
- Sauté: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beans, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently until softened to your taste, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Expert Tips
- Whole green beans: We recommend using whole green beans, and especially French haricots vert beans for an elegant presentation. However, you can also cut your beans into 1-inch pieces, if you prefer.
- Make ahead: This is a super quick recipe, but you can get a head start on dinner by going ahead and performing the blanching process. Then, store in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days, until you’re ready to cook.
Variations
Here are some options for customizing this recipe:
- Green beans almondine: Replace the sesame seed oil with olive oil, omit the sesame seeds, and instead toss with 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds, and serve with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle about 1/4 cup feta or parmesan cheese over the green beans just before serving.
- More veggies: To change things up, sauté mushrooms, tomatoes, or onions before adding in the green beans.
- Herbs: Sprinkle any favorite fresh herbs over the top for extra flavor. Parsley, chives, basil, or thyme are good choices.
Frequently asked questions
Blanching is the process of boiling vegetables for a short time to bring out their color and perfect crisp, tender texture. It is not completely necessary to blanch the green beans before sautéing them, however, we feel that it will yield the best results. Plus, they will sauté quicker.
Boil or blanch green beans until they are tender-crisp, and still bright green, about 1 minute. Then, transfer them to an ice bath to soak in for about 3 to 5 minutes to stop the cooking process and preserve color and texture.
There are many ways to jazz up green beans and add delicious flavor. Add butter, your favorite spices, or even a squeeze of lemon juice. In this recipe, the combination of nutty toasted sesame oil, fresh garlic, and salt & pepper are all that you need for a winning side.
Serving suggestions
The beauty of a simple side dish like these sautéed green beans is that it pairs well with so many different mains. Here are some tasty options:
- Air Fryer Tofu
- Creamy Salmon and Potato Skillet
- Easy Korean Beef
- Roasted Chicken Thighs
- Healthy Shrimp Scampi
- Creamy Pesto Salmon
- Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
Storage recommendations
- Leftovers: Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to about 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop, in the oven at 350ºF for about 8 minutes, or in the microwave until warm.
- Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe airtight container or bag for up to 3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
More side dish recipes
- Baked Balsamic Asparagus
- Herbed Potato Salad
- Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower
- Honey Mustard Carrots
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Oven Roasted Veggies
Finally, if you try a recipe and you like it, leave us some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! We would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
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Sautéed Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen whole green beans, no need to defrost
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2-4 garlic cloves, pressed
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl with ice and cold water next to it.
- Once bubbling, add the frozen green beans and cook for 1 minute.
- Quickly and carefully drain the beans and place them in the prepared ice bowl. Allow it to sit in the ice water for 3-4 minutes, then drain very well and pat dry with paper towels.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beans, garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently until softened to your taste, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Notes
- Leftovers: Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to about 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop, in the oven at 350ºF for about 8 minutes, or in the microwave until warm.
- Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe airtight container or bag for up to 3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
