Name: Umami Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 lb. green beans (trimmed); 3 tbsp avocado oil (or other flavorless oil); 5 scallions (finely sliced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp mirin; 1 tsp sugar

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After you make these umami green beans, you’ll never want to make green beans another way again! The char adds an addictive sweetness like no other that will knock your socks off.

Cooked green beans on a round black plate.

How to trim green beans

To trim your green beans, pinch or cut off the stems. The pointy end does not need to be trimmed (photo 1). Then, chop or not and cook as you please. I add them to a heated cast iron with avocado oil and cook them until charred (photos 2 & 3).

Step by step trim and cook green beans in cast iron.

How to cook fresh green beans

After charring your green beans on at least one side, add your soy sauce, mirin, scallions, and garlic (photos 1 & 2). Then, toss well to coat and cook until charred all over.

Step by step cooking green beans in a cast iron pan.

Tips for the perfect sautéed green bean recipe

The more charred the green beans are, the more delicious they will be.
Cook in a cast iron pan for extra char! You do not need to make this recipe in a cast iron and I have made it both ways. If you choose to use a regular pan, cooking the green beans may take a few extra minutes.
Keep a splash guard handy. The green beans will spatter when they hit the oil because of their water content.

You won’t need another green bean recipe after trying this one!

Overhead shot of cooked green beans in a round black plate.

Looking for a cast iron pan?

There are 2 cast iron options that are awesome. The Lodge cast iron skillet ($33) works great and is a great price. If you’re looking for the pretty one photographed in this post, grab the 12″ Finex cast iron with lid ($280). It’s awesome. Make sure you get the one with the lid!

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5 from 6 votes