Sautéed green beans with garlic and soy
Sautéed green beans with garlic and soy is a classic Chinese home-style dish, often called 'suan rong si ji dou' (garlic minced four-season beans) in Mandarin. It features crisp green beans stir-fried with minced garlic and seasoned with light soy sauce, sometimes with a touch of oyster sauce or chili for extra flavor. This quick and flavorful vegetable dish is a staple in many Chinese households and restaurants.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is relatively low in calories (around 100-150 kcal per serving) and carbohydrates, while providing a good amount of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K from the green beans. The fat content is moderate, mainly from the cooking oil used in stir-frying, and the soy sauce adds a small amount of sodium and umami flavor without significant protein or fat.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 110 kcal |
| Protein | 4.5 g |
| Carbs | 12 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
| Vitamin C | 25 mg |
| Vitamin K | 45 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 350 IU |
| Folate | 40 mcg |
| Manganese | 0.5 mg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
| Calcium | 55 mg |
| Potassium | 220 mg |
Per 1 cup (180 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this dish exemplifies the Chinese culinary principle of 'qing chi' (eating lightly), emphasizing fresh vegetables with simple, aromatic seasonings. Nutritionally, the quick stir-frying method helps preserve the green beans' crisp texture and heat-sensitive nutrients like vitamin C, while the garlic adds allicin, a compound known for its potential health benefits.
