Quick Green Beans with Garlic

Ingredients

• green beans — 400 g, trimmed
• garlic — 4 cloves, minced
• dried chilies — 3 pieces (optional)
• soy sauce — 1 tbsp
• salt — 1/2 tsp
• cooking oil — 2.5 tbsp

Steps (beginner-friendly)

1. Trim the ends off the green beans, wash, then dry them THOROUGHLY with kitchen towels — wet beans will spit oil and steam instead of blistering.
2. Heat 2.5 tbsp oil in a wok over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Add the beans carefully (they may spit) and spread them in one layer. Let them fry undisturbed 2 minutes.
4. Toss and keep frying 3-4 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the skins blister, wrinkle, and show browned spots. Taste one — it should be tender with no raw grassy crunch.
5. Push the beans aside, add minced garlic and dried chilies to the oil, and stir 20 seconds until fragrant.
6. Add 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1/2 tsp salt; toss everything 1 minute.
7. Serve hot immediately.