Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I put on green beans to make them taste better? ›

Brighten with citrus: As soon as the green beans are cooked and seasoned, squeeze over a bit of fresh lemon, lime or even orange juice. The citrus will brighten the overall taste beautifully. You could also grate the citrus and sprinkle the zest in with your seasonings.

Then, I toss the blanched beans with olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and salt to pep up their flavor. Serve them just like that, or dress them up more with toasted almonds or pine nuts, grated Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, or fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or thyme.

Romano Beans (Italian Green Beans or Flat Beans)

They have a satisfying crunch when eaten raw, similar to that of a sugar snap pea. Romanos can stand up to longer cooking times than other types of green beans, whether you choose to steam them, boil them, or braise them. Romano Bean Recipes: Romano Bean Salad.

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

Steam: Steaming vegetables is one of the best ways to preserve their nutrients. It involves cooking vegetables over boiling water in a covered pot or steamer basket. This method helps retain water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins.

Some people (especially food service establishments relying upon your satisfaction) add an alkaline ingredient, such as baking soda, to the cooking water to help retain the color of green vegetables.

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

Steaming is a simple way to cook vegetables, and it leaves the flavor and much of the nutrients intact. It's slightly healthier than boiling since fewer nutrients end up in the water. Plus, steaming requires little time and attention. A steamer basket is a great kitchen tool to have on hand.

Do you cut green beans before or after cooking? ›

Some green beans come with their stem ends already sliced off – they'll look like they have a flat, cut end. But if the stem ends are still on, snap them off before cooking. For a neater look, line up the ends of the green beans and slice them off on a bias. There's no need to trim the tender shoot on the other end.

"French green beans, or haricot verts, are a more slender variety of traditional green beans, which are also called string beans here in the U.S.," Napolitano says. "Because they're harvested earlier, haricot verts also tend to be more tender, earthier in flavor and more expensive than traditional green beans."

In a medium saucepan, heat margarine and water over medium heat until margarine melts, swirling to coat bottom. Add beans and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, separating them with a fork. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until beans are crisp-tender.

French green beans (also called Haricots Verts) are slightly longer and skinnier than regular green beans and may be a little bit more expensive. They are harvested earlier then regular green beans, so they are thought to be more tender and more flavorful.

There are several options to add flavor to pinto beans without meat. You can use vegetable broth, spices such as cumin, paprika, and chili powder, or even add sautéed onions, garlic, and bell peppers for an extra kick.

Undercooking your beans

Overcooking can detract from the eating experience, leaving your beans bland and lifeless. Undercooking beans, on the other hand, can put yourself at risk of food-borne illness. This is especially true for red beans like kidney beans.

But most people can enjoy more beans with less gas with the help of these tips: Soak beans overnight in water, then drain, rinse and cook in fresh water. This decreases the oligosaccharide content. Cooking the beans in a pressure cooker may reduce the oligosaccharides even further.