Cooking Chinese Long Green Beans

Sichuan Style Stir-Fried Chinese Long Beans

Chinese green beans, also called long beans, make an easy stir-fry with Sichuan peppers, red chilis, and sesame oil. This dish is ready in only 15 minutes from start to finish!

Garrett McCord

What Are Chinese Long Beans?

Chinese long beans (also called Chinese green beans, yard-long beans, and chopstick beans) are a staple vegetable in much of Southeastern Asia.

While they can be eaten raw, they're often thrown in stir-fries, curries, and omelettes.

They taste like the European-American style of green beans but the flavor is sharper and they have a crunchier texture.

Incredibly healthy and now widely available in most supermarkets, Farmers' Markets, and Asian markets, Chinese long beans are a wonderul option for adding to main courses or using for simple side dishes.

Elise Bauer

How to Cook Chinese Long Beans

I love to prepare Chinese long beans in a Sichuanese style using Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies (preferably, a Chinese variety).

First we quickly stir fry the chilies and peppercorns in peanut oil to bring out their flavors. Then we add the long beans to the hot pan, and stir-fry for just a few minutes.

To finish we take the pan off the heat and toss with a little dark sesame oil and soy sauce. Easy!

Elise Bauer

Long Beans Vs. String Beans

Long beans are (obviously) longer than string beans, but that's not the only difference between the two vegetables. Long beans are in a different family than string beans. They have a crunchy texture, and they are not as sweet as a string bean. However, their flavors are similar enough that you can often prepare them in the same way. In this recipe, you can substitute string beans for long beans.

How to Prep Chinese Long Beans

Prepping Chinese long beans is simple. Wash them in clean water and then trim the ends. Finally, if a recipe calls for them to be in certain lengths - as this one does - cut them to the appropriate length.

Additions to Chinese Long Beans

So many of our readers have made and loved this recipe over the years. Here are a few of their suggested additions.

A clove or two of crushed garlic
Salted black olives
Sliced mushrooms
Fermented bean curd
Crushed red pepper (for extra heat)

No wok? No Problem

If you don't have a wok, use a sturdy, large sauté pan that has at least a two-inch lip.

More Chinese Stir-Fry Recipes to Try!

Stir-Fried Green Beans With Ginger and Onions
Mushroom Stir-Fry With Peas and Green Onions
Spicy Tofu Stir-Fry
Broccoli Stir-Fry With Ginger and Sesame
Easy Vegetable Stir-Fried Rice

Chinese long beans can be found in both green and purple varieties. Both have similar flavors and textures, and either kind can be used for this recipe.

1/2 pound Chinese long beans, trimmed and cut into 3 inch segments
1 tablespoon peanut oil
4 to 6 dried chilies , preferably Sichuanese, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon whole Sichuan peppercorns , lightly crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil
Splash soy sauce

Add the oil, stir-fry the chilies and peppers:

Add a tablespoon of peanut oil to a wok or a large sauté pan over medium heat and swirl until hot. Add chilies and peppers and stir-fry briefly until fragrant.
Add the long beans, salt, and sugar:

Add the long beans and stir-fry vigorously for 3 to 4 minutes. (You don't want the spices to burn. If they start to then turn down the heat a bit). Season with salt and sugar and stir-fry a few seconds more to mix it all together.
Stir in the sesame oil and soy sauce:

Remove from heat. Stir in the sesame oil and soy sauce. Serve immediately.

Elise Bauer

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
95	Calories
7g	Fat
8g	Carbs
2g	Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	95
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 353mg	15%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 6mg	28%
Calcium 45mg	3%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 157mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.