Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

This delicious Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce is so easy to make and comes together in just a few minutes! It's loaded with green beans, mushrooms, and peppers and is perfect for a weekday dinner.

Need more vegetables in your life? Try my Stir Fry Mung Beans, Miso Tofu, Filipino BBQ, or my Grilled Eggplant recipe.

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• Top Tips
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Storage
• Ingredients
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

Top Tips

• Feel free to use your favorite black bean sauce. Here is my favorite vegan black bean sauce.
• If you don't like black bean sauce or aren't able to get it easily, hoisin sauce or vegetarian oyster sauce are great substitutes.

Substitutions

• 2 tablespoons spicy black bean garlic sauce:
  • Regular Black Bean Sauce: For a milder flavor.
  • Hoisin Sauce: For a sweeter, less spicy option.
  • Fermented Black Beans: Mixed with garlic and chili paste to taste.
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce:
  • Tamari: For a gluten-free option.
  • Coconut Aminos: For a soy-free, slightly sweeter alternative.
• 1 tablespoon black rice vinegar:
  • Balsamic Vinegar: For a sweeter and slightly tangy flavor.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: For a more subtle flavor.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: For a more robust flavor.
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar:
  • Honey: For a natural sweetener.
  • Maple Syrup: For a different flavor profile.
  • Coconut Sugar: For a lower glycemic index option.

Green Beans and Vegetables:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced:
  • Garlic Powder: Use ¼ teaspoon per clove of garlic.
  • Shallots: For a milder garlic-like flavor.
• 12 oz French green beans, trimmed:
  • Regular Green Beans: Similar flavor and texture.
  • Sugar Snap Peas: For a different but still crisp texture.
• ½ cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced:
  • Button Mushrooms: For a similar texture.
  • Portobello Mushrooms: For a meatier texture.
• ¼ cup yellow bell pepper, julienned:
  • Red or Orange Bell Pepper: For similar sweetness and color.
  • Poblano Pepper: For a different but mild flavor.
• ¼ teaspoon sesame oil:
  • Olive Oil: For a milder flavor.
  • Peanut Oil: For a nutty flavor, but use sparingly.
• ⅛ cup peanuts, chopped:
  • Cashews: For a similar crunchy texture.
  • Almonds: For a different nutty flavor and crunch.
  • Sunflower Seeds: For a nut-free option with crunch.

Variations

Spicy Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

• Ingredients: Add red pepper flakes or fresh chopped chilies.
• Flavors: Use a spicy black bean garlic sauce and serve with a dash of Sriracha for extra heat.

Tofu Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

• Ingredients: Add cubed firm tofu.
• Flavors: Press the tofu to remove excess water and pan-fry until crispy before adding to the dish.

Tempeh Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

• Ingredients: Add sliced tempeh.
• Flavors: Marinate the tempeh with soy sauce and a bit of maple syrup for extra flavor before stir-frying.

Mushroom Medley Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce

• Ingredients: Add a mix of different mushrooms such as oyster, cremini, and portobello.
• Flavors: Enhance the umami flavor with a splash of soy sauce or tamari.

Storage

• Store green beans with black bean sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating and check for freshness before consuming. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Ingredients

Sauce:

• spicy black bean garlic sauce
• soy sauce 
• black rice vinegar 
• brown sugar

Green Beans:

• vegetable oil 
• garlic
• French green beans
• shiitake mushrooms
• yellow bell pepper
• salt and pepper
• sesame oil 
• peanuts

To make the sauce, in a bowl combine black bean sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar.  

Next, in a pan or wok over medium high heat, add the vegetable oil in the pan and saute garlic, French beans and shiitake mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes:

Add yellow bell pepper and continue stir-frying for another 2 minutes, then add the sauce mixture and allow it to cook for another minute. Season with salt and pepper. 

Right before serving, add sesame oil and sprinkle chopped peanuts:

Frequently Asked Questions