These Pan Fried Green Beans are so easy to prepare and can come together in just a few minutes with so much flavor and irresistible texture. The fresh green beans are fried in olive oil with lots of garlic to extract the natural flavor of the tender green beans, all the while giving them a smoky and somewhat grilled-like flavor.
This Sauteed Green Beans recipe is proof that you don’t need to go the extra mile in preparation just to enjoy a delicious dish. Sometimes, a simple way of preparing food like this recipe is already enough to enjoy the pure goodness of green beans.
You may serve this recipe as a side dish for lunch. It can be a side dish for almost any meat recipe, like grilled chicken and beef steak. This is also a perfect meal idea for dinner.
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Why Does This Recipe Work?
- This is a 4-ingredient recipe that only uses pantry-staple ingredients. From olive oil down to salt and pepper, all of which can be easily found in your kitchen. If one is unavailable, then you can easily run to the nearest grocery store and buy it there for a very affordable rate.
- This sauteed green beans recipe is made with simple ingredients, and it has a few basic steps to follow, and the best part is the dish will be ready in just a couple of minutes.
- It is a simple skillet green beans recipe with wonderful flavor. The taste of the green beans is enhanced by the garlic, and the overall flavor of the dish is made better by the salt and pepper.
- This is a recipe with no fuss. You just need a single pan to cook the whole dish in. If you are looking for a recipe to make at home when you are short in time and have little energy to move around, then cook this dish at home.
- Within five minutes, you will already have a perfect side dish for any of your meals in a day.
- A light and vegan-friendly recipe that that any one of any age can enjoy it. It is also a very suitable dish to include in your keto diet.
- This Pan Fried Green Beans is an easy side dish that goes well with any beef, chicken or fish dishes.
- This perfect healthy side dish is a great option for eating green veggies.
What’s in This Recipe?
Fresh Green Beans. Fresh green beans taste a little grassy. They also have a bitter undertone to them, but that can easily be eased out if seasoned well. Fresh green beans are needed if you want to complete this recipe. The delicate yet crunchy taste of this vegetable will make this dish one of the best recipes you can ever try at home.
Fresh Garlic. Boost the flavor of the fresh green beans by sauteing garlic first in the oil before frying the green beans. The garlic will remove the unlikeable bitterness of the fresh green beans as well.
Salt and Black Pepper. Salt and black pepper will create a delicious balance between the garlic and fresh green beans by sprinkling them on top of the cooked version of this dish.
Olive Oil. Frying this dish in olive oil is the best choice since olive oil will not impart any taste or flavor to what you are cooking. The olive oil will let the garlic, fresh green beans, and salt and pepper do all the flavorings. Olive oil, instead of butter, make this recipe dairy-free and gluten-free with low carbs.
How to Make Pan Fried Green Beans?
One: Use a sharp knife to trim the green beans.
Two: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, add in the green beans and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the green beans are tender.
Three: Sprinkle salt and pepper on top and serve immediately.
Top Tips!
- You may bring the fresh green beans to a boil in a pot of salted water for a different taste and texture. Let them cool for a few minutes before frying them in the pan.
- Try cooking your fresh green beans over high heat to give them extra flavor. This is also a trick to cook this dish faster.
- Make sure that the pan and the olive oil are already preheated before adding in the fresh green beans. The preheated oil will prevent the green beans from sticking to the surface of the pan.
- Wash your green beans before using, and then make sure you pat them dry with tissue paper to avoid the splashing of the oil once you put the green beans in.
Recipe Variations
- If you want to make this Pan Fried Green Beans recipe a savory one, you may add oyster sauce as you are frying the green beans.
- Squeeze a bit of orange juice into the green beans while you are frying to add more flavor.
- You can also add a few drops of lemon juice or lemon zest to enhance the flavor.
- A sprinkle of parmesan cheese will make this recipe more delicious, as the beans will have a stringy and cheesy taste to them.
- Some pine nuts scattered here and there will also turn this recipe into a more satiating and delicious dish that is perfect for breakfast.
- If you are a spice lover, you will love this recipe even more if you are going to add some Sriracha, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Add a splash of soy sauce to give your dish an Asian flavor.
- You van replace olive oil with vegetable oil, sesame oil or avocado oil.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is quite well-known in the Philippines as a partner for boiled white rice. However, you may also serve it as a side dish for other recipes.
Your delicious sauteed green beans will go exactly well as a side dish for a homemade Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia, Mexican burgers for dinner.
Make your lunch extraordinary by serving these Pan Fried Green Beans with Thai Basil Fried Rice or with Cajun fish fry. If you are tight on budget and time, you may just serve this dish alone as it is.
Storage
To Store: Leftovers of this dish can be stored in a sealed container and refrigerated for up to seven days. You may also just leave it at room temperature for up to three days.
To Freeze: For longer shelf life, you can freeze your leftovers of this dish for up to three months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight, and reheat in the microwave until piping hot before serving.
Recipe FAQs
If you have leftover grilled beef or chicken in your fridge, this recipe is the best way to use them. Chop them into tiny bits before tossing them into the frying pan with the green beans. The taste will be as perfect as ever.
This recipe is easily adjustable. You may always double or triple this recipe to accommodate more servings, just add more of all its ingredients, and you are good to go to make a larger serving of this dish.
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Recipe
Pan Fried Green Beans
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 250 g fresh green beans , trimmed
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to trim the green beans.
- In a large pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat, and add in the green beans and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the green beans are tender.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on top and serve immediately.
Notes
- You may bring the fresh green beans to a boil in a pot of salted water for a different taste and texture. Let them cool for a few minutes before frying them in the pan.
- Try cooking your fresh green beans over high heat to give them extra flavor. This is also a trick to cook this dish faster.
- Make sure that the pan and the olive oil are already preheated before adding in the fresh green beans. The preheated oil will prevent the green beans from sticking to the surface of the pan.
- Wash your green beans before using, and then make sure you pat them dry with tissue paper to avoid the splashing of the oil once you put the green beans in.
Ginger
Easy side dish, Thanks!
Tracey
Yummy! Love this. Wondering if sunflower oil would work in place of olive oil.