Garlic Sesame Green Beans

Give green beans an upgrade with this Garlic Sesame Green Beans recipe. Sautéed in oil and garlic and coated in toasted cashews and sesame seeds, this dish pairs perfectly with any main course.

The most delicious green beans recipe… ever

Looking for some tasty side dishes to incorporate into your fall meal lineup? Look no further. This garlic sesame green bean dish is the perfect cozy solution for pairing with all of your favorite main courses.

This recipe was born from my desire to clear the air for green beans once and for all, and to prove that they can be downright delicious! By using a handful of different flavorings and seasonings, we’re able to achieve a savory, garlic-y flavor that anyone would love.

Trust me, this recipe is a surefire way to get kiddos to eat their veggies! It’s that good.

Ingredients in this recipe for garlic green beans

The ingredietns for this dish are simple and straightforward. We have our oils for sautéing, our flavorings for seasoning, the green beans, and the mix ins (cashews and sesame seeds). You only need 9 items total to make a seriously savory side dish!

• Cashews: Cashews will be used for mixing in with the beans. They’ll add yummy toasted flavor as well as a nice crunch! You’ll need 1/4 cup, roughly chopped.
• Sesame seeds: Sesame seeds are our second mix in and will be toasted alongside the cashews. Use 2 tbsp.
• Avocado oil: Avocado oil will be used to sauté the green beans.
• Sesame oil: We will also use sesame oil for sautéing because it presents a slightly different flavor.
• Garlic: Garlic, always! I found that 6 minced cloves was the perfect amount.
• Salt: A dash (1/4 tsp) of salt will be plenty!
• Pepper: Follow up the salt with an equal amount of pepper.
• Soy sauce: Our final flavoring will be soy sauce. Use 1/4 cup of your favorite low sodium type.
• Green beans: Finally, you have to have the beans! Use 1.5 lbs, trimmed.

Tools needed to make garlic green beans

For this dish you’ll need the usual: cutting utensils, sautéing supplies, and measuring cups. That’s it!

• Cutting board
• Chopping knife
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Dutch oven or sauce pan
• Stirring utensil
• Tongs
• Measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup

How to make garlic sesame green beans

Garlic sesame green beans are a walk in the park to prepare. We’ll start by toasting the cashews and seeds in the oven, and then we’ll move onto sautéing everything else in either a dutch oven or a sauce pan! In total, this recipe will take about 25 minutes.

To begin, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Toast the cashews and sesame seeds on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Then, set aside.

Add the avocado oil and sesame seed oil to a large dutch oven or sauce pan. Once hot, add the garlic.

Next, stir everything around until fragrant, and then add the salt and pepper. Stir in the soy sauce.

Add the green beans and toss to coat. I used tongs to continually toss, letting them cook for 10 minutes total and stirring every so often.

After 10 minutes, turn off the heat. Add the cashews and sesame seeds, toss to coat, and then serve.

Recipe questions, answered

Can I use peanuts in place of cashews?
You definitely can! Chop and toast as directed, and peanuts will be just as tasty on this dish.

I’m out of green beans but have some frozen broccoli. Would this recipe work the same way?
I would say yes. Cook everything as directed, but let the broccoli sauté for a bit longer since it will be cooking from frozen.

Can I use a different oil in place of the avocado oil?
You can try using olive or refined coconut oil. I recommend refined because it won’t have that slight coconut flavor (although, that may actually be tasty!).

Storing garlic sesame green beans

Have leftovers? Not a problem! Seal them up in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated. Enjoy within 3 days, reheating on the stove before eating.

Dig into these side dishes

Craving some more delicious sides to accompany your sesame green beans? Here are some yummy ideas! The potatoes and stuffing are my favorites!

• Easy Roasted Breakfast Potatoes
• Cranberry Quinoa Salad
• Thai Noodle Salad with Walnut Butter
• Healthy Apple Chicken Sausage Stuffing
• Savory Pumpkin Hummus

Recipe by Erin Morrissey + Photos by The Mindful Hapa