This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Enjoy Cold Garlic and Soy Green Beans as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. No matter how you choose to serve these freshly flavored green beans, you’re going to love how unique and delicious they are!
You know what I go crazy for during hot summer days? Cold food! Not any cold food, though – I’m talking about food that’s specifically meant to be eaten cold. There’s so much more to life than ice cream and cold fruits, too. Cold Garlic and Soy Green Beans are the BEST summertime snack or side when you want something savory, not sweet.
My mom made this side for us all the time when we were growing up. It was one of our favorites and we’d always ask for weekly repeats! That’s how you know it’s good – when kids are asking for more veggies on their plates. With green beans this fresh and flavor packed, it’s not a hard task to dig in and enjoy them!
I always make sure to blanch the beans just enough that they don’t get soggy and soft. I’m very particular about crisp beans, just like I am with my broccoli. This is still a great simple and yet so flavorful side dish to have on a hot day! Serve them crisp and cool, and enjoy.
What You’ll Need:
- Green Beans – Make sure they’re nice and fresh! You’ll want them to be totally green with no dark spots and pretty firm to the touch.
- Soy Sauce – I use a low sodium soy sauce to keep the beans from being too salty. Coconut aminos or tamari also work as a gluten free option.
- Garlic – Use fresh garlic for this recipe for the best flavor.
- Sesame Oil – The slightly nutty flavor that sesame oil has does wonders for the overall flavor of this simple dish. Don’t substitute it with any other oil!
- Sugar – White granulated sugar is best here. It helps to balance the other bold ingredients while also adding a subtle touch of sweetness.
How to Make Cold Garlic and Soy Green Beans
For more detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Blanch the beans. Blanch the green beans in a pot of boiling water for about 4-5 minutes and no longer. Toss them into an ice bath immediately after.
Combine the ingredients. Once drained, toss the green beans in a zip-top bag with the other ingredients. Shake it up!
Marinate. Let the beans cool and marinate in the fridge for an hour. Give them a toss, then marinate for an additional hour.
Enjoy! Give the beans a final toss just before serving. Enjoy them nice and cold!
Common Questions
Can I marinate the green beans for longer? I don’t recommend letting the green beans sit in the marinade for over 2 hours. At 2 hours, the beans adapt the flavors but maintain their crisp consistency. If you leave them for longer, you risk the beans losing that desired crunch.
Can I use frozen green beans? Only use fresh green beans for this recipe! Frozen or canned green beans will NOT yield the same results as fresh.
Add some vibrant color to your plate with more of my favorite veggie side dishes!
Sticky Korean-Style Cauliflower
Pistachio Pesto Brussels Sprouts
Cold Garlic and Soy Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) fresh green beans
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) low sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, blanch the green beans for 4-5 minutes, no longer, and then throw them in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Ice bath meaning a large bowl of water with ice in it.
- Drain the beans and water.
- In a large ziploc bag, put in all the ingredients, zip it tightly and shake it all around until all beans are covered.
- Let cool in the fridge for 1 hour then toss them around again in the bag and cool for another hour.
- Toss the beans around prior to serving.
- Enjoy cold.
These are fantastic! I made them to have with ham sandwiches on Christmas day. Please don’t wait until summer to make them. There was leftover marinade that was so tasty, we added it to some sour cream with a little horseradish and it made a tasty dip. I also used a container to avoid using plastic bag, like another person mentioned.
Oh my gosh, I am a very OLD cook with years of experience all over the world in a kitchen. A dear North American friend I met in. Jamaica fifty years ago sent me your site. WO W , love your recipes for vegan and Vegetarin foods. You may be assured I will share this good luck with many. I. Closed my bakery in. Spain years ago, hence….plenty of time to enjoy your recipes. Cheers, Geraldine in. Spain
I love this recipe so much! I just made a whole batch ahead to snack on over the week. I make it in a Tupperware container rather than a ziplock bag to save on plastic waste ?
My question was for the Asian string bean marinade.
Greetings from New York
Your recipe sounds great.
Quick question.
Is it toasted sesame seed oil or not toasted?
Thank you.
It doesn’t matter which. Whichever one you have on hand is great! My preference, if it matters, is toasted.
Can these be made the day before or is that too long to marinate?
You could definitely make these a day before!
how many does this recipe feed? I am having a potluck with 12 people..would this be enough?
I would probably double or triple the recipe to feed that many.
This was quite good especially given the simplicity of the recipe. I used only 1 Tb toasted sesame and 2 of canola thinking it would have too strong a flavor using all sesame, was wondering what others did and whether the author meant for toasted sesame or not. Also was thinking I would like to try with red pepper sesame oil sometime.