This delicious Asian Green Bean Salad is a perfect quick and healthy side dish or snack that can easily be made in advance!

Over Labor Day weekend we took the kids to the beach with some of my family. Now I typically pack snacks of the cracker variety for such outings so I was surprised when my Aunt Patricia pulled out a giant freezer bag full of marinated green beans from her cooler. I wasn't surprised for long however because not only were they beyond delicious but the perfect snack for a hot day on the water.
Of course when I got home I had to whip up a batch myself and I am so excited to share the recipe with you!
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Ingredients:
- Green beans: Be sure to use fresh not frozen.
- Soy Sauce: If you have a soy intolerance feel free to replace with Coconut Aminos. It will be slightly sweeter but still have great flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Honey
- Sesame Seeds
- Ground Ginger
- Fresh Ginger: You can also use ginger paste or jarred minced ginger.
- Garlic Powder
- Garlic Cloves
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Optional. If you before a more mild dish then feel free to leave these out.
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Tips & Tricks
One of the most important things to get right in this recipe is to not overcook the green beans. They really only need to be in boiling water for 3-4 minutes max and it is crucial to submerge them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process immediately.
If you do this, they'll have a fantastic crispness that will make for truly great, healthy snacking. They also make a fantastic side dish and go great with rice and salmon. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!
Serve Immediately or Make Ahead
This is a dish that only gets more flavorful the longer it sits! Make the night before to serve as a cold salad that is sure to impress.

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Made this Asian Green Bean Salad recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe

Asian Green Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 2 lb green beans, washed
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ tbsp honey
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, crushed (I use ginger paste)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl by filling it with ice and cold water.Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add in green beans and cook at a full boil for 3-4 minutes until bright green but still crisp.Drain and immediately submerge in the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once cool to the touch, drain and set aside in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl whisk together all remaining ingredients until well combined.Pour marinade over the green beans and mix to coat. Enjoy immediately or allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. Enjoy!
This green bean dish looks delish! Loving all the savory flavors!
I am really loving this salad! The green is deliciously healthy,
Soon green beans will be in the garden. This sounds like a delicious way to enjoy them. Perfect for bbq season. Healthy too.
This green bean salad is divine! I am always looking for fresh new side dishes at BBQs and this fit the bill perfectly. Thank you for such a fantastic recipe!
Hi there,
I have abundance of yellow beans (green beans are a little behind). Are yellow bean’s suited for this recipe and have you tried them?
Hi Nadine, I haven’t tried this recipe with yellow beans but I imagine it would work. Let me know if you try how it turns out !
This quickly became a favorite side dish at my house! So delicious!
Lovely salad. I love added ginger. Sounds so delicious and light. And tasty. I will definitely make this.
Love the flavors in this!
This green bean salad is so delicious. Thank You for sharing!
I added some orange juice and cut back on some soy sauce. Delicious!
Wow! I usually don't submit comments concerning recipes I've tried, but this one is wonderful! One of my favorite salads at Japanese restaurants is seaweed salad; this Asian Green Bean Salad just as tasty. I hope many more people stumble upon this recipe and try it. We've had a bumper crop of beans this summer. Most of them are frozen. I prepare them for freezing just the same as with this salad. I'm hoping that the recipe will be just as good using frozen beans.
Thanks Debbie! So glad you enjoyed it!