Simple, fast, and tasty, these green beans make a great vegetable side for a weeknight dinner. The combination of red pepper, garlic, and lemon combine to provide a tangy spice that will compliment most other dishes, making this a versatile accompaniment to finish off a meal.
According to Better Homes and Gardens, "Blanching is a heat-and-cool process that plunges a fruit or vegetable into boiling water for a short amount of time before transferring it to an ice bath, which quickly stops the cooking. Also known as parboiling." For this recipe blanching helps the green beans maintain their vibrant green color while sautéing. If you are out of ice or otherwise unable to procure an ice bath for the second step of the blanching process, you can simply remove your green beans slightly before 2 minutes, I recommend about 1 minute 45 seconds, and place them in a strainer under running cold water. Toss them around until they are all cool to the touch and you are good to go.
Depending on how spicy you like your food, these green beans can be served with a drizzle of Sriracha over the top to kick the heat up a notch or if you prefer sweet to spice, a drizzle of honey over the top helps keep some of the spice at bay. Enjoy!
Makes 4 Servings
Preparation Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
*1 pound green beans
*1 1/2 tablespoon butter
*1 teaspoon olive oil
*1 clove of garlic, minced
*1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
*1 teaspoon lemon juice
*1 teaspoon lemon zest
*Pinch of salt and pepper
Preparation:
*Begin by prepping your green beans and taking the ends off.
*Bring a pot of water to a boil.
*Submerge green beans for 2 minutes, or until bright green. Immediately remove and place green beans into an ice bath or run under cold water.
*Place olive oil and butter into a pan over medium heat. Once melted add your garlic and red pepper, cooking about 20 seconds, until fragrant.
*Add in green beans and stir frequently for 4-5 minutes. Add teaspoon of lemon juice and continue stirring til combined.
*Sprinkle in salt, pepper, and lemon zest, stirring well.
*Plate and enjoy!
Recipe Creator - Alina Gersib