Fresh Green Beans
Recipes » Side Dish » Vegetables
I learned from Julia Child that when it comes to cooking fresh green beansthe "French bean system" guarantees superior taste, texture, and color. This is my favorite method for preparing fresh green beans, especially for entertaining. Green beans prepared in this manner are fabulous, and I could easily make my dinner from a large plateful of them. They're also convenientyou can do everything except the finishing a couple of hours before you serve dinner, and they'll still be bright green and yummy when you finish them in time to accompany your main course. There's no loss of color, flavor or texture by cooking the beans in advance.
"This is a good way to eat fresh green beans and it's not so unhealthy. I don't prefer the lemon instead I like a little garlic but overall it was delicious. I'll definitely have to cook this more and tweak it until it's more me lol thank!"
- aprilandchris08Cuisine: FrenchMain Ingredient: Green Beans
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Notes Ingredients
Fresh Green Beans Preparation
To Prepare:
Snap the tip of one end of a bean with your fingers and draw it down the length of one side of the bean to remove any possible string. Do the same thing with the other end, pulling it down the other side of the bean.
Beans of not much more than 1/4 inch in diameter are cooked whole, and retain their maximum flavor. If they are large in circumference, you may slice them on the bias to make several 2 1/2-inch lengths per bean (this or machine slicing is usually called Frenched beans though it is rarely done in France as it is seldom necessary). Sliced beans never have the flavor of whole beans.
Wash the beans rapidly in very hot water the moment before cooking.
To Blanch:
Have ready a large bowl of ice water.
Bring 6 to 8 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When the water is at a rolling boil, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per quart of water, and drop in the prepared beans. Cover briefly, to bring the water quickly back to the boil, then immediately remove the cover. Boil uncovered until beans are just tender 2 to 3 minutes for smaller or frenched beans; 4 to 5 minutes for whole round beans. Taste test for doneness. They are done when they are just cooked through but still have the slightest crunch of texture.
Drain immediately, return the beans to the kettle and gently run cold water over them. When pot is half full, drain again. Transfer beans to the ice-water bath. The faster you chill the beans the greener and fresher they will remain. When thoroughly chilled, in 4 to 5 minutes, drain again. Set aside, or, if making in advance, dry them thoroughly and wrap in a clean dry towel and refrigerate in an airtight container or plastic bag (thoroughly chilled cooked green beans keep well for several hours).
To Finish or Reheat:
About 3 minutes before serving, in a large saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat, toss the beans to evaporate excess moisture. Add a piece of butter, salt and pepper to taste, tossing to combine. Add the rest of the butter gradually while tossing the beans; alternate with drops of lemon juice. Taste for seasoning. Turn into a vegetable serving dish, sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
In the "French bean system": The large quantity of rapidly boiling water is to seal the bean initially and cook quickly without drop in temperature. The salt helps to provide a uniform green color, and does not go (appreciably) into the beans. The rapid cooling in ice water stops the cooking and sets the color.
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Fresh Green Beans Reviews
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Yummy stuff. Very fresh. Great with sage pork chops.
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Made these tonight. Love them, sometimes I sprinkle in some slivered toasted almonds.
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This is a good way to eat fresh green beans and it's not so unhealthy. I don't prefer the lemon instead I like a little garlic but overall it was delicious. I'll definitely have to cook this more and tweak it until it's more me lol thank!
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Very good! Very simple and makes for a spectacular presentation, as well as tasting fantastic. Thanks for sharing. :)
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Sorry for any confusion with the ingredients...when making one of my previous edits 'Freshly ground black pepper' was inadvertently changed to 'Active dry yeast' and I missed the error. [I made edits to this recipe.]
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Julia Child's 'french method' with vegetables eg green beans ought be modified by a comment by Auguste Escoffier in his remarkable 'Guide Culinere.' Like Child, Escoffier boils the prepped beans in lots of well-salted boiling uncovered water. Here's the big difference: If the beans are to be served immediately, they should never be shocked in an ice bath; rather, simply drain well, return to pot until all clinging water evaporates and, finally, add the butter and correct the seasoning. Serve immediately. It is only for recipes or occasions that the bean will not be eaten right away that one proceeds with the rinse and ice-bath, etc. I have experimented with both and find my explanation here perfectly in keeping with good eating. One thing I MUST try is adding yeast as a flavoring....I've never HEARD of that anywhere before! (Does one simply season the dish of beans with Fleischman's Instant Dry Yeast to taste? Sounds bizarre but curiously compelling.
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[I made edits to this recipe.]
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[I made edits to this recipe.]
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In the 'French bean system': The large quantity of rapidly boiling water is to seal the bean initially and cook quickly without drop in temperature. The salt helps to provide a uniform green color, and does not go (appreciably) into the beans. The rapid cooling in ice water stops the cooking and sets the color.
[I posted this recipe.]
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