Step 1

Snap off the tiny stem of the green beans (if it’s still there). Then, snap the green beans in half. Rinse the beans thoroughly and drain them.

Step 2

In a pan over medium heat, sauté the minced garlic with 1 tablespoon of oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir frequently to keep the garlic from burning. Then, transfer the garlic to a bowl.

Step 3

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook the beans for 90 seconds. Using a spider spatula or skimmer, remove the green beans from the water. You can also drain the green beans through a colander. (See note for the reasoning behind par-cooking the green beans.) You do not need to submerge the green beans in ice water at this stage.

Step 4

Transfer the par-cooked green beans to a bowl and toss them with 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Step 5

Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF (175ºC). Transfer half of the green beans to the basket of your air fryer and spread them out to a single layer. If you can’t spread out the green beans into a single layer, cook them in smaller batches. (See note 2)

Step 6

Cook the beans for 5 minutes. I like to pause the air fryer after 3 minutes and give the beans a shake to ensure that they cook evenly.

Step 7

After 5 minutes of cooking, check to see if the skins of the green beans are slightly wrinkled. If the skins don’t look wrinkled at all, cook the beans for another minute. Transfer the first batch of green beans to a serving bowl or large plate.

Step 8

Finish air frying the second batch of green beans. Transfer them to the serving bowl or plate. Scatter the sautéed garlic over the beans and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds, chili flakes, and a small pinch of salt (if desired). Lightly toss everything together. Serve with rice or noodles and your favorite protein! See headnote or blog post for suggested pairings.