My family enjoys eating fresh from the vine green beans that we grow in our backyard garden. Even if you don’t grow your own…they can be easily purchased at a local farmer’s market or roadside vegetable stand. They only take a few minutes to prepare and then you can cook them via your desired method.
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The first thing that you want to do is WASH them. I like to place them in a colander in my sink and run water over them. If they’re dirty I’ll lightly use a veggie brush on them to losen up dirt and debris. If you have an organic produce wash that you like to use…you can certainly use that. Once done…let them sit in the colander for 3-6 minutes to allow the water to drain.
Washing and rinsing all fresh produce is a step that shouldn’t be skipped! It doesn’t matter where you buy them or if you grow them yourselves…please take the time to properly wash!
Next…you need to trim them. I remove a little bit off each end. Cut the beans into bite-size pieces, about 3/4 to 1″ in length. I place them into a clean colander as I’m doing it. Once I have them all trimmed, I rinse under cool running water for a minute or two. That’s it, the prep work is done.
Fresh green beans can be cooked up several different ways. You can boil them or steam them. They can be sauteed in your favorite stir-fry recipe. They can be tossed into soups, stews, or a casserole that is baked into the oven. Got an Instapot? You can make them in there too!
When I’m in a hurry I like to toss them into a saucepan with boiling water. I add a little bit of butter (not margarine), a little bit of granulated sugar, salt and ground black pepper. Cook until fork tender. Serve. They’re great served alongside your favorite red or white meat, poultry and even fish!
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I do enjoy having fresh green beans with any meal. I remember when I was young that my grandmother and mother would cook the green beans to death.
My mother (93) is a southern woman and they cook their green beans to death! I remember my grandmother and mother getting and cleaning beans ready for cooking. Into a big pot and some kinda fatback and they would cook them all day long. I just throw a handful in a skillet with some butter and cook them for 7 or 8 minutes.
We love the growing season. I cook green beans very often.
I love cooking fresh, sliced potatoes with garlic and topping them with cooked green beans and diced fresh tomatoes. Add olive oil and salt and it’s amazing.