Garlicky Blistered Green Beans
Green beans (also called "string beans" and "snap beans") are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain folic acid and fiber - making them a great accompaniment to a healthy diet! You can get green beans in many different forms - fresh, frozen, canned, pickled, and more. For those who are watching their sodium intake, we recommend fresh or frozen. Green beans are fairly mild in flavor, making them a great accompaniment to virtually any main (chicken, fish, shrimp, steak - you name it). They are also incredibly flexible in the ways that they can be prepared. You can boil them, steam them, fry them, bake them, and even grill them!
Why we love this recipe? Well, for starters, it's about as simple as they come. With only 4 ingredients (3 if you don't count "salt" as an ingredient) this easy side dish comes together in about 15 minutes from start to finish - making this a great one to prepare while the other components of your meal are cooking. If you finish these early, just keep them warm in the oven while everything else comes together - they'll still be good later!
Don't let the simplicity of this one fool you into thinking there's nothing special about it. It is flavorful! Something about hot oil + crispy slightly charred green beans + crispy garlic + a pinch of sea salt just works! These beans can be reheated (so if you want to make a larger batch, go ahead!) and enjoyed on a later day. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days and simply reheat in a microwave safe container. Looking for a little more spice? You can also dress these up with a pinch or two of red pepper flakes to kick up the heat! That's the beauty of a simple, clean recipe like this one - you have so much flexibility to make it your own!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound green beans, trimmed
- 1 TBSP canola oil or grapeseed oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- Sea salt
Instructions:
- In a large skillet over high heat, heat the oil and green beans. Stir to coat the beans in the oil and let cook for about 4 minutes undisturbed - the beans will begin to blister. Using a spatula or tongs, flip the beans and allow to cook and blister for a few minutes on a new side. Give the beans another shake or flip and let them cook for another two minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, stir, and let cook for a minute - the garlic will begin to brown and crisp, but you don't want it to burn and blacken. Remove from the heat and sprinkle a couple pinches of sea salt overtop before serving while still warm.
Makes 2 Servings | Serving Size: 1/2 recipe | One Serving Replaces: 1 vegetable, 1/2 healthy fat
