Green Bean Recipes
Green beans are the ultimate versatile vegetable. Packed with nutrients and easy to prepare, green beans are a delicious staple that goes perfectly with any meal.
You might have had green beans at a barbecue, alongside a holiday meal, or as a side dish with family dinner. Because they can be prepared in various ways, they show up in many different cuisines. Green beans are also called string beans, snap beans, French green beans, or haricots verts.
Nutritional Information
Green beans are a healthy choice for almost all diets. They contain no cholesterol, are nearly fat-free, and have very little sugar per serving. Green beans are also a low FODMAP food, meaning they are a generally safe choice for someone with chronic digestive issues.
Fresh green beans also have about twice the amount of iron as spinach and contain lutein and carotenoids, which can protect your vision. They contain about 2 grams of protein per serving and are rich in folic acid, fiber, and vitamins A, C, K.
Green Bean Recipes
Learning how to cook green beans can be easy. Most fresh green bean recipes usually require very few ingredients. If you’re cooking fresh green beans, you will likely want to snap off the ends before you begin, although you can leave the rest of the bean intact.
1) Haricots Verts With Herb Butter
This simple recipe is a great way to settle the question of how long to boil green beans. This recipe comes together with barely 6 minutes of cook time and under 30 minutes of preparation. Fresh herbs are a must for the buttery dressing, but otherwise, there are no specialty ingredients required. Reviewers recommend this as a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Easter.
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons diced shallots
3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
2 teaspoons tarragon, finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 lbs haricot verts, ends trimmed
How to Prepare:
Combine all the ingredients besides the green beans into the softened butter. Mix until the butter is creamed and the herbs are well integrated. Heat a large pot of salted water until boiling. Cook the green beans in the boiling water for 6 minutes, or until they are tender but crisp. Drain, and toss with the herb butter mixture.
2) Garlic Green Beans With Parmesan
This fresh green bean recipe is a perfect accompaniment to pan-roasted salmon or pork chops and goes well alongside mashed sweet potatoes. With barely six simple ingredients, this recipe has only 81 calories per serving.
Ingredients:
1 lb green beans, ends trimmed
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
How to Prepare:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the green beans, salt, pepper, and toss to combine—sauté for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese, tossing again when melted.
3) Green Beans Almondine
This classic French recipe is an elegant way to elevate green beans from a simple side dish to the star of the show. This dish is fancy enough to impress but still comes together quickly.
Ingredients:
1 lb haricots verts
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ heaping cup raw sliced almonds
2 medium shallots, finely diced
2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced
Zest of 1 small lemon
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper
How to Prepare:
Liberally salt a large pot of water, and bring to a boil. The extra salty water will help the green beans retain their bright color. Blanch the beans for 4 to 5 minutes, or until they are just barely tender.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Sauté the sliced almonds in the melted butter for about 2 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden. Lower the heat, and add the chopped shallots and garlic. Sauté for about two minutes, or until fragrant and lightly caramelized.
Using a slotted spoon or kitchen tongs, transfer the cooked green beans into the skillet. Sauté briefly, then add the lemon juice and zest, tossing to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
4) Steamed Green Beans with Lemon
If you’re wondering how long to steam green beans, look no further than this light and healthy recipe.
Ingredients:
1 lb green beans
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
Fresh ground pepper
How to Prepare:
Boil or steam the green beans for about 4 to 5 minutes. While cooking, zest and then juice the lemon. Once the green beans are cooked (they should be squeaky against your teeth when you bite into one), drain, then toss with the olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately.
5) Gingered Green Beans
For a side dish with a fresh twist, try cooking green beans with an unexpected spice: ginger.
Ingredients:
2 lbs green beans
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Pinch of kosher salt
How to Prepare:
Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Then, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the green beans for about 4 minutes. Once barely tender, strain the beans immediately, plunging them into the ice water.
In a skillet, sauté the garlic in the olive oil over low heat. Once fragrant, add the ginger and red pepper, then the strained beans. Stir-fry the green beans for about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve hot.
Takeaway
Discovering how to cook fresh green beans can be easy, delicious, and rewarding. Green beans’ versatility means they can be served alongside almost any dish. Each low calorie, vitamin-packed bite of these recipes will be sure to win over the crowd at any dinner.
