Sautéed Yellow Wax Beans

Sautéed Yellow Wax Beans are pan-seared until charred and smoky, then tossed with garlic, serrano peppers, fresh oregano, and lemon for an easy summer side dish!

Course Side Dish

Keyword black pepper, garlic, oregano, sea salt, serrano peppers, wax beans

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Servings as a side

Calories 73kcal

Ingredients

1 Lb Wax Beans
2 Tbsp Avocado Oil or other neutral oil
2-3 Cloves Garlic minced
1 Serrano Pepper diced
1/2 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
Fresh-Cracked Black Pepper to taste
1/2 Tbsp Fresh Oregano chopped
1/2 Tbsp Lemon Zest
Juice from 1/2 Lemon
Flaky Maldon Salt for finishing, optional

Instructions

Prep the garlic, serrano, oregano, and lemon zest before you begin - the recipe moves quickly once the beans hit the pan!
To begin, bring a pot of SALTED water to boil. While it's heating up, trim any woody ends off of the wax beans.
Once the water is boiling, add the wax beans for 2 minutes.
While the wax beans are boiling, prepare a large bowl with lots of ice and cold water.
Once the wax beans are done boiling, drain the water and add them directly to the bowl of ice water. Leave them in the water for 2-5 minutes, or until cold to the touch. Then, remove the beans from the water and pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Any remaining moisture will prevent the beans from charring properly.
In a large sauté pan, bring the avocado oil to medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the blanched and dried wax beans. Spread them out in the hot oil, then leave them be for about 2 minutes, or until they start to deeply brown in spots. While they're charring, season the beans with the salt and fresh-cracked black pepper.
Then, stir the beans then leave them be for another minute or so, so they char on the other side.
Then, reduce the heat to low. Add in the garlic and serrano peppers, and toss with the charred wax beans. Sauté the beans until the garlic is fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to let the garlic brown!
Remove the beans from heat and stir in the fresh chopped oregano, lemon zest, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Add on some flaky Maldon salt for extra crunch, if you'd like. Taste, and adjust seasonings to your preference (i.e. add more salt).
Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Be sure not to add the garlic and peppers while you initially char the wax beans - you don't want the garlic to burn!
If you can't find wax beans in the store, this recipe can easily be made with the same amount of green beans.

Nutrition

https://wellandfull.com/2026/08/sauteed-yellow-wax-beans/

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