Spicy Szechuan Stir-Fried Green Beans with Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crisp-tender green beans stir-fried with fiery Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, and chili for a bold and authentic Chinese side dish. This Chinese-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs green beans, vegetable oil, Szechuan peppercorns for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 120 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 pound, trimmed green beans
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp, lightly crushed Szechuan peppercorns
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp dried red chili flakes
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp, for garnish toasted sesame seeds

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 pound trimmed green beans and blanch for 2 minutes until bright green and slightly tender; immediately drain and plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 1 tsp lightly crushed Szechuan peppercorns and 4 minced garlic cloves; stir-fry for 20 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the blanched green beans to the wok and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until slightly blistered and tender-crisp.
Step 4: Stir in 1 tsp dried red chili flakes, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt; toss continuously for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly and coats the green beans.
Step 5: Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds on top before serving.