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Asian Green Beans

These Asian Green Beans are slightly crisp and full of flavor. They are a perfect vegan side dish and are a breeze to make in minutes!

wooden bowl filled with green beans cooked in asian sauce

Regular steamed green beans are just okay to me, but these delicious Asian-style green beans are absolutely amazing and so easy to make. They pair well with any healthy stir-fry recipes you might be making for dinner.

overhead photo of large blue plate with asian green beans and smaller blue plate with rice

How to make Asian green beans

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Caramelizing the onions adds a delicious savory flavor to this green bean recipe, and it’s so easy to do.

Begin by slicing the onion into thin crescent shapes or dice if you like your onions smaller. Go ahead and mince the garlic as well, or you can use the jar variety.

onions being sliced into crescent shapes on wooden cutting board

I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.

In a large pan or wok, add the onions to the dry pan and begin to cook on medium heat. You will need to keep a close eye on this to keep it from burning. I have a video below showing how easy it is to do this.

stainless wok with onions browning

Once the onions begin to brown a little, add about 3 tablespoons of veggie broth or water to the pan. As they continue to cook, add a little more veggie broth one tablespoon at a time. Scrape any of the caramelized brown parts, and mix into the broth as the pan begins to cook down.

stainless wok with green beans and onions

Next, add the clean green beans and 3/4 cup of veggie broth. Cover and cook on medium-high heat for approximately 12-15 minutes until the beans become slightly tender, but still somewhat firm.

While the beans are cooking, go ahead and make the sauce.

Making the Asian-inspired sauce

About 30 years ago, a Japanese friend taught me how to whip this sauce up for a lot of the dishes he prepared. He mostly used it as a dipping sauce, but I have found so many more uses for it over the years.

homemade stir fry sauce in bowl with whisk on white background

It takes less than 5-minutes to prepare this Asian-inspired sauce by simply whisking together soy sauce (or tamari if it needs to be GF), water, lemon juice, minced garlic, sweetener of choice, and arrowroot powder (or another thickener such as cornstarch). I prefer arrowroot powder because it doesn’t clump and is so easy to use in recipes.

Personally, I use honey to sweeten my sauce, and there is a great vegan-friendly honey option as well. Other sweetener options include maple syrup, agave, or sucanat.

overhead photo of wok with asian sauce

After the ingredients are mixed well, add the sauce to the hot pan of green beans and turn the heat down to low. It will begin to thicken within seconds and will continue to thicken as it heats up.

Stir well to coat the beans and allow to cook uncovered in the broth for another 3-5 minutes. Then, remove from heat and serve warm.

overhead shot of wooden bowl filled with asian green beans and chopsticks

Not only are green beans delicious, but they’re also loaded with fiber and heart healthy.

*Originally published August 2014.

Try these other great vegan bean recipes

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wooden bowl filled with green beans cooked in asian sauce

Asian Green Beans

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

These Asian green beans are slightly crisp and full of flavor. They are a perfect vegan side dish and are a breeze to make in minutes!

Ingredients

Asian Green Beans

  • 1 lb. of fresh green beans, washed with ends clipped off
  • 1/2 cup onion (or more)
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup veggie broth for cooking
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • sea salt to taste (optional)
  • Asian Sauce, recipe below

Asian Sauce

Instructions

  1. Caramelizing the onions adds a delicious savory flavor to this green bean recipe, and it's so easy to do.
  2. Begin by slicing the onion into thin crescent shapes or dice if you like your onions smaller. Go ahead and mince the garlic as well, or you can use the jar variety.
  3. In a large pan or wok, add the onions to the dry pan and begin to cook on medium heat. You will need to keep a close eye on this to keep it from burning. I have a video below showing how easy it is to do this.
  4. Once the onions begin to brown a little, add about 3 tablespoons of veggie broth or water to the pan. As they continue to cook, add a little more veggie broth one tablespoon at a time. Scrape any of the caramelized brown parts, and mix into the broth as the pan begins to cook down.
  5. Next, add the clean green beans and 3/4 cup veggie broth. Cover and cook on medium-high heat for approximately 12-15 minutes until the beans become slightly tender, but still somewhat firm.
  6. While the beans are cooking, go ahead and make the sauce.

Asian Sauce

  1. It takes less than 5-minutes to prepare by simply whisking together soy sauce (or tamari if it needs to be GF), water, lemon juice, minced garlic, sweetener of choice, and arrowroot powder (or another thickener such as cornstarch). I prefer arrowroot powder because it doesn't clump and is so easy to use in recipes.
  2. Personally, I use honey to sweeten my sauce, and there is a great vegan-friendly honey option as well. Other sweetener options include maple syrup, agave, or sucanat.
  3. After the ingredients are mixed well, add the sauce to the hot pan of green beans and turn the heat down to low. It will begin to thicken within seconds and will continue to thicken as it heats up.
  4. Stir well to coat the beans and allow to cook uncovered in the broth for another 3-5 minutes. Then, remove from heat and serve warm.

Notes

Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 73Total Fat: .2gSaturated Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 13.2gFiber: 4.4gProtein: 4.3g

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Did you make this recipe?

Please rate and leave a comment because I love hearing from you. Remember SHARING IS CARING!

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Sue

Friday 2nd of October 2020

Made this evening I added one teaspoon of Chinese five spice also. Perfect Friday evening dinner :-)

Terri Edwards

Saturday 3rd of October 2020

Hi Sue- So glad you liked it, and the Chinese five spice sounds like a great add.

Alexandra

Tuesday 1st of September 2020

We liked it, and will repeat it.

Terri Edwards

Wednesday 2nd of September 2020

Hi Alexandra- So glad to hear that!

JanIce Allen

Monday 10th of April 2017

This looks appetizing.

Linda

Monday 10th of April 2017

Yum.. I use date paste for sweeetner.

EatPlant-Based.com

Monday 9th of May 2016

Easy cut, paste, and print version.

Ingredients:

1 lb. of fresh green beans, with ends clipped off 1 small onion 2 cloves of garlic sea salt to taste garlic powder to taste veggie broth for cooking Asian Sauce (recipe below) In large pot, add approximately 1/2 cup of veggie broth and thinly sliced onion. Sauté for a few minutes until browned and caramelizing. Add a little more veggie broth, scrape any of the caramelized brown part and mix into broth. Add minced garlic and sauté another 5 minutes. Add green beans and 3/4 cup veggie broth and cook on medium high heat for approximately 15 minutes covered, until slightly tender, but still somewhat firm. Careful not to overcook. Add Asian Sauce with arrowroot powder and lower heat. It will thicken quickly. Cook another 5 minutes and serve.

Asian Sauce: • ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce (if necessary, make sure gluten-free) • ¼ cup water • lemon juice (1-1/2 Tbsp or juice from 1/2 lemon) • ½ Tbsp sweetener (sugar,sucanat, maple syrup, agave, etc.)

• 1 tsp. minced garlic, I use kind from jar • arrowroot powder or corn starch to thicken

Whisk all ingredients in bowl.

Paula

Wednesday 5th of April 2017

Sounds fantastic!

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