Although a summer vegetable, green beans have been gracing our holiday tables since the mid 1950’s thanks to the popular green bean casserole. Today autumn meals include a wide variety of green bean recipes from salads to stir-fries.
Selecting & Storing
You can purchase green beans fresh or frozen. If buying fresh, reach for beans of equal size for uniform cooking. Choose beans that are free of rust spots and scars and that have vivid color and a velvety feel. They should also be straight and slender with a firm texture and should snap crisply when broken. Avoid beans that are stiff or have seeds that are visible through the pod. Keep them in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper. They will stay fresh for three to five days.
Green Bean Casserole opens in a new tab
Preparing
Snap or trim both ends then enjoy them raw, or cooked, diced, chopped, slivered or served whole. They’re delicious in soups and stews, salads, main dishes and side dishes. Here are a few traditional ways to prepare green beans:
If you love Green Bean Casserole opens in a new tab, our version calls for fresh green beans and crunchy, baked (not fried) onion rings. Our New and Improved Green Bean Casserole opens in a new tab is another delicious choice. Fresh green beans are baked in a sauce of onions, mushrooms, reduced-fat sour cream and breadcrumbs.
Green Beans with Shallots and Almonds opens in a new tab is a classic crowd pleaser as a holiday side or weeknight meal.
Make a winter green bean salad with cooked and chilled green beans, your favorite vinaigrette, roasted pecans, crumbled goat or feta cheese and dried cherries or cranberries.
Roast them! Toss green beans with thinly sliced garlic and shallots or onions and a drizzle of olive oil. Roast until tender and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice. Or try Mini Turkey Meatloaf and Maple Green Beans Sheet-Pan Dinner opens in a new tab for an easy weeknight meal.
Walnut Haricot Verts opens in a new tab is quick and easy and uses a thin stringless French variety of green beans.
Stir-fry green beans in a little peanut oil. Add tamari, ginger, garlic, curry powder, crushed red chile flakes or any other favorite seasoning. Cook until the green beans are bright green and crisp tender; serve hot over rice with your choice of protein.
Our Health Starts Here® Fiery Wok-Seared Green Beans opens in a new tab sears them in a dry wok for a mild smoky flavor.
We can pickle that! Our Pickled Cajun Green Beans and Carrots opens in a new tab will keep well for up to a month in the refrigerator.
Walnut Haricots Verts opens in a new tab
But don’t stop there — add a twist! Here are some tasty and unexpected ways to serve green beans.
Sauté or roast haricot verts. Put them on a pizza and top with cheese. Bake and serve.
Toss green beans with pesto and pasta.
Steam or sauté green beans and arrange them in a “nest” for poached eggs.
Thai-Style Red Curry with Turkey and Green Beans opens in a new tab is a wonderful way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey or if you prefer, cubed cooked tofu or tempeh.
Make Green Beans with Tangy Shallot-Yogurt Sauce opens in a new tab for a filling side dish. Greek yogurt, lemon juice and shallots add great flavor.
Mix chopped cooked green beans into tuna or chicken salad for a sandwich upgrade.
Do you get inventive with your green bean recipes or stick to the tried and true classics? Let me know your favorite way to serve them.
