Sichuan Dry Fried Green Beans

Sichuan Dry-Fried Green Beans are a beloved classic—crispy, savory, and bursting with umami. Whether you’ve had them in China or at your favorite local spot in the U.S., you know how addictively good they are. Today, we’re mastering this flavorful dish in just a few minutes—quick, easy, and restaurant-worthy right from your kitchen!

Recipe

Serve 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds green beans, snipped and removed strings
4 cups peanut oil, for frying
1 tablespoon extra light olive oil, separated
1 teaspoon red Sichuan peppercorns
1 teaspoon green Sichuan peppercorns
1 cup ground pork
3 tablespoons preserved mustard greens (sui mi ya cai)
6 dried red chili peppers
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 teaspoon Pixian broad bean paste (Pixian dou ban jiang)
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions

1. Fry or roast the green beans:

• In a pot over medium-high heat, pour in the peanut oil and heat it to 325°F (163°C).
• Add the green beans and cook for about 4 minutes, until slightly wrinkled. (Traditionally, Chinese-style green beans are fried until dehydrated and dry.)
• Alternatively, you can coat the green beans with cooking oil and roast them in the oven at 400°F (204°C) for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the green beans and drain on paper towels.

2. Infuse the oil:

• In a wok over low heat, add the extra light olive oil, red Sichuan peppercorns, and green Sichuan peppercorns.
• Stir-fry for about 1 minute until aromatic. Remove the peppercorns and set the infused oil aside.

3. Cook the pork and aromatics:

• Return the infused oil to the wok and increase the heat to high.
• Add the ground pork and stir-fry until fully cooked through.
• Add the preserved mustard greens, dried red chili peppers, and garlic. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Stir in the Pixian broad bean paste and cook for another minute.

4. Combine and finish:

• Return the cooked green beans to the wok and drizzle in the soy sauce.
• Stir-fry everything together until evenly coated and heated through.
• Serve hot and enjoy!