Sautéed green beans with garlic and dried shrimp is a quick and flavorful Chinese-style vegetable stir-fry that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes. The green beans are cooked until tender-crisp and tossed with fragrant garlic and umami-rich dried shrimp, creating a simple dish that is both satisfying and nutritious.

This Chinese green beans recipe is very popular among Malaysian Chinese households and is commonly served in Chinese restaurants. Despite its simplicity, it showcases what Chinese cooking does best: fresh ingredients, high heat, and balanced seasoning.

Green beans are known by several names in English, including string beans, French beans, and Baguio beans. In Chinese, they are commonly called 豆角. Restaurants sometimes give them more attractive names on their menus, such as “prosperity beans” (富贵豆) or “four-season beans” (四季豆).

In this article, I will show you how to prepare sautéed green beans with garlic and dried shrimp step by step, so the beans stay crisp, vibrant, and full of flavor.

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Understanding the different types of green beans

There are many varieties of green beans. Some are long and thick, while others are smaller and more delicate.

The longer varieties often have fibrous strings along the sides, which should be removed before cooking. The smaller variety, sometimes called 豆角苗, is more tender and can usually be cooked directly without removing the strings.

Because of their tenderness, these younger beans are often sold at a higher price than the larger varieties.

Why this sautéed green beans recipe works

This sautéed green beans with garlic and dried shrimp recipe is a favorite because it is simple, quick, and packed with flavor. Here are a few reasons why it works so well:

1. Tender-crisp green beans. The beans are stir-fried quickly over high heat, which keeps them bright green and crisp while still making them tender enough to eat comfortably.

2. Garlic adds aroma and depth. Garlic is the key aromatic ingredient in this dish. When sautéed briefly in hot oil, it releases a rich aroma that enhances the natural flavor of the beans.

3. Dried shrimp provides umami flavor. Dried shrimp are commonly used in Chinese cooking to add deep, savory flavor. Even a small amount can dramatically improve the taste of a simple vegetable dish.

4. Quick and easy to prepare. Once the ingredients are prepared, the entire stir-fry takes only a few minutes to cook, making it ideal for busy homecooks.

5. Flexible and easy to customize. You can easily adjust the seasoning or omit the dried shrimp for a vegetarian version. Some restaurants even prepare this dish with just salt, garlic, and oil to highlight the freshness of the beans.

How to Make Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Dried Shrimp

Below is the detailed step-by-step method for preparing this dish.

1. Prepare the green beans

Before cooking, check whether the beans contain fibrous strings.

1. To remove the string, snap one end of the bean and pull it lengthwise along the side. If no string comes off, the beans are tender enough, and you can skip this step.
2. Next, align the beans together and trim off both ends. Cut the beans into 5–6 cm (about 2 inches) lengths. If you are using very young or baby green beans, you may leave them whole.

2. Prepare the garlic and dried shrimp

Dried shrimp are widely available in Chinese grocery stores. In Asia, they can be found almost everywhere in local markets.

1. Rinse the dried shrimp to remove impurities and any loose shells.
2. Soak them in water for about 10 minutes to rehydrate.
3. Drain well before stir-frying.
4. Smash and coarsely chop the garlic. Avoid chopping the garlic too finely, as small pieces tend to burn quickly during sautéing.

3. Sauté the green beans until tender-crisp

Once all the ingredients are prepared, the cooking process takes only a few minutes.

1. Heat some cooking oil in a wok or frying pan.
2. Add the dried shrimp and sauté for about 30 seconds.
3. Add the chopped garlic with a pinch of salt. Stir-fry until fragrant.
4. When the garlic releases its aroma, and the dried shrimp no longer smell fishy, add the green beans.
5. Stir-fry the beans until they start to soften but still remain crisp.
6. Season with light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a small amount of Shaoxing wine. (Tip: Some restaurants only use salt to highlight the natural freshness and crispness of the beans.)
7. After 2–3 minutes, taste one bean to check for doneness.
8. Remove the beans immediately once they are tender-crisp. The residual heat will continue cooking and may dull the bright green color if left in the pan too long.

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Sauteed green bean with garlic and dried shrimp

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Sauteed green bean with garlic and dried shrimp is widely popular among the Chinese. A quick and easy meal in thirty minutes.

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Ingredients

• 500g Green beans (weight before cut)
• 5 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp dried shrimp
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp (45g) oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp (30ml) rice wine
• 2 tbsp (30ml) light soy sauce
• 1 tsp (5g) sugar
• 2 tbsp (30ml) cooking oil

Instructions

1. Cut off the tips of the green beans at both ends.
2. Cut the beans to about five to six cm lengths.
3. Chopped the garlic coarsely.
4. Soak the dried shrimp in water for ten minutes to rehydrate, and drain.
5. Saute the chopped garlic, followed by the dried shrimp. Season with some salt.
6. Add the green beans and stir-fry.
7. Season the green beans with oyster sauce, rice wine, light soy sauce, and sugar.
8. Dish out immediately once the sauteed green beans are tender-crisp.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 461Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 2111mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 12gSugar: 19gProtein: 11g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 2/21/2020

Tips for Perfect Sautéed Green Beans

Here are some simple tips to help you achieve the best texture and flavor when making sautéed green beans with garlic and dried shrimp:

1. Choose fresh and firm green beans. Fresh green beans are bright green, firm, and snap easily when bent. Avoid beans that appear limp or wrinkled. (Tip: Long beans (长豆), which have long been valued across Asia, make a great alternative to green beans in this stir-fry.)

2. Remove fibrous strings if needed. Longer varieties often have tough strings along the sides. Snap one end and pull the string off before cooking. Smaller, tender beans (豆角苗) usually don’t require string removal.

3. Keep the beans tender-crisp. Stir-fry the beans just until they are tender but still slightly crunchy. Overcooking will make them soft and dull their bright green color.

4. Garlic and dried shrimp. Garlic is key to aroma. Cook it until fragrant, but avoid burning. Dried shrimp add strong umami flavor. As a guideline, use about 1 tablespoon of dried shrimp per 100 g of green beans. For a vegetarian version, you can omit the dried shrimp.

5. Choose the right cooking oil. Use oils with a neutral flavor, such as peanut oil, corn oil, or palm oil. Olive oil has a distinct flavor that may alter the traditional taste of this Chinese stir-fry.

6. Adjust seasoning to taste. You can tweak the seasoning to your preference. For a vegetarian version, omit the oyster sauce and add slightly more soy sauce. If you avoid alcohol, skip the cooking wine.

7. Manage moisture and heat. High heat produces the desirable wok aroma (wok hei, 镬气), but it can also evaporate the seasoning quickly. On a powerful gas stove, you may need to add 2–3 tablespoons of water during stir-frying. Small stoves or induction cooktops may not produce as strong wok aroma, but the dish will still be delicious.

8. Serve immediately. Green beans taste best right after cooking. Leaving them in the pan can cause them to overcook and lose their crisp texture and vibrant color.

A Simple and Satisfying Home-Cooked Dish

Sautéed green beans with garlic and dried shrimp is a classic yet easy home-cooked dish.

It’s one of the vegetable dishes I often order at restaurants, but it’s also simple enough to make at home whenever you want a quick, flavorful meal.

Like most home cooking, there are no strict rules. Follow the recipe first, then adjust ingredients and seasoning to suit your taste.

If you enjoy this dish, check out another green bean recipe on my blog: Szechuan-style dry-fried green beans with minced meat (干煸四季豆). It has a completely different flavor and is another classic way to cook green beans.

After trying the recipe, leave a comment and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear about your experience!