French Beans, Zucchini and Pine Nut Side Dish
Recipe using Seasonal Green Beans and Courgettes, Hot or Chilled
Sep 9, 2008
French beans are available in supermarkets all year round. Perhaps this is a reason why the gastronomy of French beans – also called green beans and haricots verts – is overlooked.
Preparing French Beans
French beans are easily prepared, by washing then topping and tailing before cooking in boiling water. Two minutes is enough to cook the French beans and give a crunchy bite. Allow the French beans to cool down and the vegetables could be eaten with a dip.
A simple French Bean salad could be made by dressing the cooled or chilled French beans with a red chilli and olive oil dressing, honey and mustard, parsley or garlic butter. Alternatively, here’s a recipe to try using French Beans, Zucchini and Pine Nuts as a side dish for fish, meats, burgers and pizzas that can be served either hot or chilled.
French Beans, Zucchini and Pine Nut Side Dish
Ingredients:
- 250g French beans or green beans, haricots verts
- 3 large zucchini or courgettes
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 15g pine nut kernels
- Olive oil
- Black pepper
Directions:
- Wash the French beans and the zucchini.
- Cut the zucchini into thick circular slices.
- Heat olive oil in a shallow frying pan or wok and cook the zucchini until brown on one side as shown in the first photograph below.
- Turn each of the thick slices of zucchini over with a spatula to brown the other side.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Remove the garlic and zucchini from the pan and rest cooked vegetables on kitchen towel.
- Cut away the tops and tails of the French beans as shown in the second photograph below.
- Add the prepared French beans to boiling water and cook for no more than 5 minutes to allow a crunchy taste.
- Add the pine nuts to olive oil in a heated shallow frying pan or wok and fry until lightly browned.
- Then return the zucchini and garlic with the French beans to the pan, remove from the heat and stir the cooked vegetables juices and ingredients well.
- Finish the side dish with black pepper to season.
- French Beans, Zucchini and Pine Nut Side Dish can be served immediately as a hot accompaniment or allowed to cool to room temperature before chilling as a cold side dish.
Buying French Beans
Shoppers will be familiar with the flat packs of prepared French beans that are frequently discounted in supermarkets. Kenya is a major producer of French beans and exports to many countries allowing cooks to have ready access to these fine green vegetables. Cooks who shop at local farmer’s markets, produce markets and greengrocer will sometimes see locally grown French beans for sale in season.
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