Chinese Dry-Fried String Beans
Chinese Dry-Fried String Beans, known as Gan Bian Si Ji Dou, is a classic Sichuan dish where green beans are stir-fried until blistered and slightly shriveled, then tossed with savory minced pork, preserved mustard greens, and aromatic seasonings like garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. The dish hails from the Sichuan province in southwestern China, celebrated for its bold, numbing-spicy flavors.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is relatively high in fat due to the stir-frying technique and added oil, but it provides a good source of plant-based protein from the beans and fiber for digestive health. A typical serving contains roughly 250-350 calories, depending on portion size and oil usage.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 180 kcal |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbs | 12 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Vitamin C | 25 mg |
| Vitamin A | 600 IU |
| Vitamin K | 40 mcg |
| Folate | 45 mcg |
| Potassium | 320 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Manganese | 0.4 mg |
| Magnesium | 35 mg |
Per 1 cup (170 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, Gan Bian Si Ji Dou is a staple in Sichuan home cooking and restaurants, embodying the region's love for 'mala' (numbing-spicy) flavors. Nutritionally, the dry-frying method concentrates the beans' natural sweetness and enhances their texture, making them more satisfying while preserving vitamins like vitamin C and K.
