Green beans are a versatile vegetable that pair brilliantly with numerous dishes, from a traditional Sunday roast and sausages with mash to a crisp bean salad or hearty casserole. Yet green beans can sometimes be rather bland, and when boiled, they often turn soggy and lose that satisfying crunch.
However, these slender vegetables can be turned into something utterly moreish in a mere 15 minutes. Culinary experts at Inspired Taste have revealed that by introducing just two straightforward ingredients, you can take fresh green beans to an entirely new level of deliciousness with minimal fuss. This simple method brings bold, lively flavours to the vegetables that will make them the highlight of any plate.
Discussing their standout recipe, the food expert shared: 'I love cooking fresh green beans in a skillet on the stovetop. It makes them so quick and easy. They're seriously delicious, especially when you add my garlic butter to the skillet. These sautéed green beans will be perfectly tender in about 15 minutes.'
Ingredients
- 450g of fresh green beans
- One teaspoon of olive oil
- One tablespoon of butter (plant-based butter can be used for a vegan recipe)
- Three cloves of garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest (lemon wedges to serve)
- 60ml of water or stock
Method
A straightforward and flavourful approach to cooking fresh green beans is to sauté them in a large skillet with a touch of oil and salt, letting them develop some gentle charring as they cook.
Begin by warming a little oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat. Then add the green beans along with a pinch of salt. As they cook, the beans will start to take on a hint of colour.
Next, pour a small quantity of water or stock into the pan to help the beans cook through while retaining their satisfying crunch. Placing a lid on the skillet traps the steam, allowing the beans to gently soften in just a few minutes.
Once tender, remove the lid and let any leftover liquid evaporate. To finish off, stir through butter, garlic, and lemon zest for a bright, rich flavour. At this point, feel free to add a pinch of pepper or any other spices you prefer, such as chilli flakes. This approach is straightforward, efficient, and requires no blanching whatsoever.
The steam produced inside the skillet delivers the same wonderfully tender results with considerably less effort. The chef rounded off by saying: 'This green beans recipe is fast. It's one of the best ways to cook fresh green beans, so we make it often!'
They also suggest serving the dish alongside turkey meatloaf, skillet chicken breasts, pork chops, and baked salmon.
