Buzz
Green beans are a nutritious food that is available all year round. Before cooking, make sure to wash them thoroughly and remove the tough ends by cutting them with a knife or snapping them off by hand. Continue reading below for basic green bean preparation methods and two popular recipes.
Ingredients
Three Basic Ways to Cook Green Beans
- Washed green beans with both ends snapped off
- Water
- Salt and pepper
Green Bean Salad
- 250g boiled green beans
- 1 diced tomato
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup (240g) crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Baked Green Beans
- 625g boiled green beans
- 1 cup (110g) seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 cup (100g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons (28g) melted butter
- 1 diced onion
- 2 cups (150g) chopped mushrooms
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (225g) sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Steps
Three Basic Ways to Cook Green Beans
Boiling Green Beans.
- Fill a large pot with enough water to completely cover the beans.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then add the washed green beans with both ends trimmed.
- Once the water comes back to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 4 minutes, or until the beans are tender but still crisp.
- Drain the beans in a colander, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
Steaming Green Beans. Steaming is the best way to preserve the maximum nutritional value of the beans.
- Pour about 2.5 cm of water into a pot and place a steamer basket on top.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, open the lid and add the washed green beans with the ends trimmed into the steamer basket.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot.
- Steam the beans for around 2 minutes, then check for doneness. The beans should be tender but still crisp.
- Season and enjoy your green beans.
Microwaving Green Beans.
- Place the washed green beans with trimmed ends into a microwave-safe bowl or container.
- Add 2 tablespoons (30ml) of water and cover the beans with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap doesn't touch the beans.
- Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then carefully peel back the plastic wrap to avoid steam burns.
- Check if the beans are cooked, season, and enjoy.
Green Bean Salad
Boil 250g of green beans using one of the basic methods mentioned above. Let the beans cool down, then cut them in half.
Place the green beans in a medium-sized bowl. Add the tomato, onion, and feta cheese. Then, use tongs to mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
In a small bowl, combine oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
Pour the prepared oil and vinegar dressing over the green beans. Continue mixing until the beans are evenly coated with the dressing.
Add salt and pepper to taste. This dish is best enjoyed chilled.
Baked Green Beans
Boil 625g of green beans using one of the basic methods mentioned earlier. Cut the beans in half lengthwise.
Preheat the oven to 175ºC. Grease a baking dish with butter or olive oil.
In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion to the pan and sauté for about 3 minutes, or until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 4 minutes, or until tender, then add the green beans to the pan and stir them together with the mushrooms and onions.
Pour chicken broth into a small pot. Bring the broth to a boil over high heat.
Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup (60ml) of water. Stir until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, then add it to the boiling chicken broth. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until the mixture thickens.
Pour the thickened chicken broth over the green beans, onions, and mushrooms. Next, stir in the sour cream.
Spread the mixture evenly in a baking dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese on top of the beans. Place the dish in the oven.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Sweetened Green Beans
Boil the desired amount of green beans for about 15 minutes.
Drain the boiled water. Transfer the green beans to a bowl.
Sprinkle a little sugar or drizzle some brown syrup over the beans.
Enjoy. The sugar will enhance the natural sweetness of the beans, making the dish even more delicious.
Tips
- You can prepare the green beans in advance and reheat them before serving. If you need to cook them ahead of time, it's a good idea to prepare an ice bath while waiting for the beans to cook. Simply fill a bowl with water and add a few ice cubes. Once the beans are done, drain them and immerse them in the ice water to stop the cooking process. This will help preserve their bright green color.
What You’ll Need
- Clean water
- Cooking tools (pot, steamer, or microwave-safe bowl)
- Stove or microwave
- Strainer
- Salt and pepper
