Green Beans - Fresh Beans

Bean-Haricot
A pulse of which there are many varieties, climbing and dwarf.  The climbing beans grow to a height of 2-3 m and are trained on a bean pole.  The dwarf varieties need no support.

The beans which  I grow in my garden are the climbing ones, I am not sure the precisely what family they come from.  The pods look like the French beans, I am sure that there are the Haricots varieties.  The seeds were given by Kath and Keith who are very keen gardeners. This beans should be freshly picked when they only need to be topped and tailed.










What do you do with green beans, a few exciting recipes here:

-Wash the beans in cold water, drain, and put them in a large saucepan full of boiling salted water (1teaspoon salt per litter).  Leave the pan uncovered and cook over a high flame.  The beans are ready when they are tender but still firm in texture.  Do not overcook. Drain thoroughly.

- If the beans are to be kept for later use or are to be dressed with oil and vinegar as a salad, they should be put in a colander under running water. 

- If they are to be served at once in butter, cream or some other way, they should not be cooled after being boiled but should be well drained.

Green beans salad
Boiled the green beans, when its' cooked toss in olive oil and mixed fresh herbs and some lemon juice


Sautéed green beans
Sauté some thinly sliced green beans, green tomatoes with oil quickly, season with salt.  The beans cooked with a crunchy texture. To serve: serve with rice, noodles.

Sautéed green beans on noodles

Au gratin
Boil the beans in salted water until they are three-parts cooked.  Drain and dry.  Put the beans in an ovenware dish with grated cheese.  Pour melted butter over them and sprinkle with more grated cheese.  Brown slowly in the oven.

Purée of French beans

Boil the beans in salted boiling water, drain and dry.  Stew for a few minutes in butter, and rub them through a fine sieve.  Add to this purée half its volume of mashed potato, and heat up the mixture.    Add butter just before serving.

My home cooking:

mixed mashed potato and mashed beans, it has a rustic look.

Delicious home cooking, omit the process of rubbing into a fine sieve.

Purée mashed potato and green beans

Stir Fry Green Beans with Asian Flavour
Pan fry fresh bean in a little oil, when it is almost cooked add tofu or fresh prawns., then stir in some sweet soy and chilli, cook for 1 minute, stir and mix!


Rustic French Beans
Boil the beans in salted water, drain and dry.  Saute in butter until brownish.  Add some mixed fresh herbs (parsley, chives and marjoram) to serve


Enjoy your fresh beans of the market or from your veggie patch, I don't think that they will stay for long in the garden, the cooler weather is coming.  Fresh is best, make the best of it.

Until Next Post
Susy