http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x67627Oh my.
ginnyinWI (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-07-09 12:19 PM
Original message
Green beans a-plenty!
What's your favorite way to prepare them?
I like them steamed with a little butter and salt, but now that I've done that a few times I'm ready to do something different.
franksolich is six of one thing about beans, half a dozen of another thing about beans.
Beans provide good nutrients, but on the other hand, they suck.
franksolich usually eats beans, when he eats beans, raw from the garden.
First up, the wired gassy primitive, whom one hopes is enjoying his summer vacation on the farmette up in Wisconsin:
grasswire (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-07-09 12:55 PM
Response to Original message
1. my MIL used to make them the old-fashioned way...
...fry up a couple of slices of bacon, put the beans in the pan and cook on slow heat for half an hour or so. It was a totally different thing from fresh.
Have you thought about blanching them and tossing with boiled new potatoes and a vinaigrette and some fresh herbs for a salad to accompany grilled meat? That's pretty y***y.
And I think green beans have an affinity for dill and lemon butter. A pinch of dill weed, a squeeze of lemon, and butter. Mmmmm.
Phoebe Loosinhouse (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-07-09 01:41 PM
Response to Original message
2. Here's great article from the Washington Post that completely changed my thinking
on green beans. The long s l o w braise - yum! The recipe with the tomatoes and fennel seed is fantastic and has a great anise kick to it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28731-20...
Something slightly weird but very good is green beans sauteed in a pan with diced potato and garlic and then served over pasta - a penne or something along that line. This is the kind of stuff my Italian mother-in-law made all the time.
sandnsea (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-07-09 01:52 PM
Response to Original message
3. grill packets
Brush aluminum foil with olive oil and whatever seasonings you like. Make single serving packets of new potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, onion, bell peppers, and whatever else sounds good to you. Throw on a moderate grill for about a half hour. Delicious!
beac (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-08-09 12:29 AM
Response to Original message
4. Roasted with garlic and feta.
Preheat oven to 425.
Toss green beans in olive oil with salt and pepper and place them in a single layer on a baking pan.
Use a garlic press to crush 2-3 cloves over the pan, distributing the garlic all over the beans.
Cook for 15 minutes or so.
Dice feta (the kind in water is best) into tiny cubes and sprinkle over the beans. Return the pan to the oven to cook for 10 more minutes.
You can finish them under the broiler to melt and toast the feta a little more, if you like.
This has become one of our favorite dishes of the summer. The beans get a slightly chewy-crispy texture that's unlike any other green bean recipe while the garlic turns into little crisps of perfection and the feta holds it all together with a nice salty bite.
Grandma:
hippywife (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-08-09 09:23 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. That sounds really, really good!
Think I'll try that for dinner tonight maybe. Thanx!
The Rita Hayworth primitive:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-08-09 01:28 AM
Response to Original message
7. Heat up the wok - throw in some garlic and ginger for a minute or so - toss in the green beans, stir fry them until they're quite blackened, and then add some chili bean paste.
Y***y.....................