ISO: Favorite Way to Cook Green Beans

[Linda in MO]

We are growing green beans in our garden and would like to know your favorite way of cooking fresh green beans.
Thanks!

[lorilei]

Green beans are great tossed with a bit of garlic and olive oil and roasted on the grill for 10-12 minutes http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

The smokey flavor is just exceptional, and the tender-crisp texture makes the most of fresh beans!

[Mamasue]

I like to make what my mother and I call Italian Beans. For about a pound of fresh green bean, Saute some garlic in olive oil; add a can of tomatoe (can be crushed, whole that is cut up, diced...whatever you have available), some white wine, seasonings such as basil, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Sometimes I add some thinly sliced onions. Add the beans and let it simmer with cover on until beans are al dente. If you use fresh basil wait to add towards the end of cooking. Serve with some parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. DH loves this side dish. Manga! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Speaking of Beans....I miss Sneezles! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

One last thought...sometimes I will add wax beans( or some may call them yellow beans) with the green.

[This message has been edited by Mamasue (edited 06-19-2001).]

[Jewel]

Here is the thread where I listed my all-time favorite recipe for Garlicky Green Beans. I even make asparagus this way on occasion! You wouldn't think chicken buillion would add such a flavor to beans, but it's wonderful! Halfway down the thread:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/003738.html

[Wendy w]

My method is very simple, I steam them add a little bit of butter and toss with some dill. MMMMmmm!!!

[Luv to Cook]

I had a ton of green beans last week. I marinated green beans, asparagus and sugar snap peas in:

1/2 cup soy sauce
3 TBS sugar
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tsp ginger (grated)
pepper

We threw them in a veggie basket and grilled them. They were soooo good.

Anita

[Curleytop]

Here is another one. Steam green beans to desired doneness. In small stirfry pan, stirfry mushrooms, green onion and cut up red bell pepper. Toss with the steamed green beans, season to taste. Great eye appeal!

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by lorilei:
Green beans are great tossed with a bit of garlic and olive oil and roasted on the grill for 10-12 minutes http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

The smokey flavor is just exceptional, and the tender-crisp texture makes the most of fresh beans!

Thanks guys!! I love all of these ideas and I'm going to put them in my MasterCook. I tried lorilei's suggestion first. I blanched my green beans for a couple of minutes in boiling water and then drained. Then I tossed them with some olive oil, crushed garlic, Kosher salt, and pepper. I don't have a vegetable basket for the grill, so I used my pizza pan with the holes in it. I put the pan on the hot grill to heat it up. Then I threw the green beans on and stirred them every once in a while. I cooked them until they turned a bit brown and were crisp tender. These were SOOOO GOOD!! After I finished my plate, I kept picking more green beans out of the bowl and munching until I was very stuffed! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Thanks lorilei. I think I will try Jewel's recipe next. My green bean plants seem to be quite prolific, so I should have plenty of beans to do some more experimenting.

[lorilei]

Linda -
Very glad you got a chance to enjoy grilled beans http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif They're one of my favorites.

I'll be glad to hear your reviews of some of the other recipes as well... happy bean eating!

[Saralee]

Yum, green beans. They had them on sale yesterday at the grocery store for 88 cents a pound.

I really like green beans sauteed with pearl onions, with a touch of butter (or butter spray works good, too.)

And this may sound weird, but sometimes I will add Craisins during the final stages of cooking. They get really plump and juicy, and add a unique sweetness and dimension to the dish. Craisins are also good with other veggies, especially stirfries. Come to think of it, I also think that green beans with slivered almonds are tasty. Especially if you toast them.

[crazycook]

Here's one of my favourites:

GREEN BEANS WITH COUNTRY HAM AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Serves 8

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes

2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 pound country ham, cut into thin strips
1 medium-size purple onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Arrange beans in a steamer basket over boiling water; cover and steam 10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove and keep warm.

Sauté ham and onion in hot oil in a large skillet until onion is tender. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserving drippings in skillet.

Stir vinegar into drippings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 to 2 minutes or until reduced by half. Stir in ham mixture, sugar, and pepper. Add green beans, and toss. Sprinkle with almonds.

Enjoy! Anna http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Lynn B]

We like green beans steamed till just crisp tender, then sauté(w/ just a pat of butter or in a non-stick pan w/ cooking spray) with garlic, a little salt and LOTS of freshly ground black pepper. (Maybe even add a bit of ground or crushed red pepper.) Then, sprinkle freshly grated parmesan on it, a little more pepper and serve! Yum!

Lynn

[munchies]

Well, this isn't light, but...it is good. We make green beans with ham and potatoes. Mmm...gets me hungry just thinking about it. I forget the details, let me know if you want me to post. It's one of those recipes I had to call mom for last summer!

[saw]

Our favorite way to make green beans is a CL recipe called something like "Green Beans with Browned Garlic and Lemon".

Basically, you blanch the beans for about 30 seconds in boiling water, then drain them. In the skillet, heat up a little olive oil and throw in some minced garlic (I always use more than called for -- I think it's up to your own taste). Brown the garlic for about 30 seconds, add the green beans back to the skillet and saute for about 30 seconds to get them coated with the garlic. Then, add about 3 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and a littel black pepper. Saute for another 30 seconds and enjoy! The beans stay crisp and light and the lemon and garlic add wonderful flavor.

Sarah