Making the best Chinese buffet-style green beans at home is simpler than it looks. These flavorful garlicky little sweet and salty green beans are a common sight in Chinese buffets that people love to eat. They not only provide a delicious way of having your greens but also require just a few ingredients. In this article, we’ll take you through all the steps needed for making this well-liked side dish in your own kitchen.
What You Can Expect
Chinese buffet green beans are popular because they have various flavors and textures in them. They are soft yet crunchy which is due to garlic and soy sauce used while cooking among other seasonings that give them an irresistible flavor profile. This recipe will amaze those who love Asian food or want another method of eating green beans entirely. Additionally, it can be seen as an opportunity to bring some restaurant quality cooking into our everyday meals at home too.
How to Make Chinese Buffet Style Green Beans at Home
Hi there! If you adore the taste of those yummy Chinese buffet green beans, then this is for you. What I will show you here is how to make them at your place using only a few ingredients.
Ingredients
First things first, let’s talk about what you’ll need:
- Fresh green beans (or frozen if you can’t find fresh)
- Garlic (because everything is better with garlic, am I right?)
- Soy sauce (regular or low-sodium, your choice)
- Oyster sauce (this is the secret ingredient that gives it that authentic flavor)
- Oil (I like to use peanut or vegetable oil, but avocado oil works too)
- Optional extras: sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, honey (if you like a little sweetness)
Now that you have all the items, let’s begin!
Instructions
Step 1: Prep your green beans.
Rinse them properly under cold water and trim off the edges. In case they are frozen, ensure they thaw completely.
Step 2: Blanch / Microwave Beans
Ensure they are still crispy but tender inside; not mushy. For my part, I usually blanch in boiling water for about a minute or two; however, if using a frozen microwave half the time indicated on the cover.
Step 3: Creating The Sauce
Mix soy sauce, and oyster sauce (optional) with other seasonings if desired in a small bowl. If garlic is being used it should be fried separately to enhance its taste.
Step 4: Stir-fry time
Heat some oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Toss in the minced garlic and cook until it smells amazing (about 20-30 seconds). Then add the green beans and stir-fry until they start to blister and soften, around 5 minutes. Pour in the sauce and keep stirring until everything is well coated and the sauce has thickened a bit.
Step 5: Serve
Move the green beans to a serving dish and garnish with either sesame or shallots. Serve immediately while still hot.
Tips for Making Chinese Style Buffet Green Beans
- Do Not Cook Beans for Too Long: The key is to ensure they are undercooked. They should be tender, but still crispy.
- Vary the Amount of Garlic: Depending on what you like, add as much garlic as you want. What matters is that it satisfies you.
- Experiment with Different Flavors: Don’t be afraid to try other ingredients such as honey, red pepper flakes, or even a little rice vinegar once you have mastered the basic recipe for more tanginess.
Conclusion
Making Chinese buffet-style green beans at home is relatively easy and satisfying; all you need is a few items and some cooking skills then frequently ordered accompaniment can be prepared with any meal. Whether served alongside other Asian-inspired dishes or eaten with weeknight dinner favorites these will always hit the spot. So have fun cooking them up but also enjoy eating what you’ve made!
