Recipe: Green Bean Fries

Recipe: Green Bean Fries

Green Beans that think they're French Fries - The Messy Baker

There is something subversively satisfying about finding a fried vegetable recipe in a healthy eating book. I was thumbing through Clean Start: Inspiring You to Eat Clean and Live Well with 100 New Clean Food Recipes by Terry Walters. Hidden somewhere between the longest title on record and the index chock full of healthy tempeh, tofu and whole grain recipes, I managed to sniff out the one dish that turns a simple green vegetable into an almost-fast-food treat. Score! In this recipe green beans  think they’re French fries. It’s tasty. It’s fast. It has all the joys of a heart-clogging treat without the penalties. And I’m disproportionately pleased by this find. Especially now.

You see, the next little while is going to be a challenge in this household. I naively thought a kitchen reno was the most disruptive event possible. Then late Friday night Andrew ruptured his quad tendon and showed me just how wrong I could be. He’ll be fine, but for the next 6 to 8 weeks, my darling husband will be sporting a bright blue brace that locks his stapled knee straight. This immobilized limb means limited walking, no driving and few joys beyond mealtime. The pressure is on! Just when I’d planned to experiment with Christmas cookies, holiday dips and fussy appetizers, I find myself in desperate need of quick recipes that taste great and are healthy.

These green beans fit the bill. The entire recipe feeds 4 and uses a mere 1/4 cup oil. By the time you calculate the amount absorbed into the paper towel and what’s left in the pan, there’s really very little oil used. Far less fat than the mound of butter Andrew would normally slather on the boiled counterparts. Best of all, these beans take less time to cook. About 5 minutes — and this includes heating the oil.

While they’re a bit messier given the grease splatters, I have to wipe the stove down anyway, so it’s not a big deal. Plus, in case I didn’t mention it, they’re very tasty.

Got any quick dishes you care to share? Post a link, include a recipe, point me to a book. Flog your blog, your book, your friends. I’m all ears.

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Green Fries

Serves 4

Adapted from Clean Start: Inspiring You to Eat Clean and Live Well with 100 New Clean Food Recipes by Terry Walters (Sterling Epicure, 2010)

  • 1 pound green beans
  • 1/4 cup canola oil or grapeseed oil
  • 1/4 tsp coarse finishing salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted nuts  (I used cashews, but almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts work well)

Trim the green beans, discard dry ends and/or stems and pat dry (this will reduced splattering when you fry them.) Line a plate with paper towels and place on the counter next to the stove.

Heat oil in a medium Dutch oven over high heat. When the oil is hot, place a small batch of beans into the pot using tongs. Quickly put the lid on the pot and shake. Give the pot a shake every 10 seconds for 30 to 60 seconds or until the beans are bright green and just beginning to get soft. Using the tongs, place the fried beans on the paper towel to drain.

Repeat in batches until all the beans are cooked. (It takes 3 to 4 batches.) Pat the cooked beans with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Sprinkle beans with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Finish with a dusting of toasted nuts. Serve hot.

Variations:

  • Combine salt with 1/4 tsp wasabi powder before tossing.
  • Try mustard powder, cumin or even curry powder with the salt.
  • Add a grating of lemon zest.
  • Swap asparagus spears or carrot sticks for the beans.

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No Comments
  • Sally
    Posted at 13:07h, 23 November

    Simple is often best. These gleaming beans look so tempting.

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 18:13h, 23 November

    Oh no, poor Andrew! Poor you! I’m so very sorry to hear about his injury. I’ll be keeping him in my good thoughts for a swift, and hopefully not too painful, recovery. Ugh, what a time of year to be laid up! 🙁

    On a cheerier note, those beans look mighty tempting and such great color too! As for quick fixes … I’m all about a big pot of soup or chili, with plenty for re-heats. Good luck, C!

  • debbie
    Posted at 19:22h, 23 November

    Wow, I can’t wait to make this. Good luck to you and Andrew both over the next few weeks!

  • Cheryl
    Posted at 23:36h, 23 November

    Oh my goodness, Charmian, I’m so sorry your hubby is laid up. Maybe you can cheer Andrew up by serving these green beans in a nursemaid’s outfit? (You in the outfit, I mean, not the green beans.)

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 10:16h, 16 December

    Oh no! I hope Andrew heals well and that you find some breaks in all your nursing. Trust me, our house knows injuries well.

    I’ve been swamped with work and single parenting so my favourite fast meals have been pasta bakes. Realized this week that it is even easier if you bake the pasta from raw or only partially precooked. Then add water to the baking dish.

    Hang in there.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:43h, 21 December

    @Sally, I’m beginning to see the appeal of simple, too! This recipe is one of my favourites now. Love it with cashews.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:45h, 21 December

    @The Diva on a Diet, thanks. Crutches on snow is scary, but we’ve got a handicapp parking permit and are using it. It makes such a difference!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:46h, 21 December

    @debbie, hope you like the beans. Andrew’s healing nicely but it’s a long haul. On the upside, I can cook what I like and he can’t do anything about it. 🙂

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:47h, 21 December

    @Cheryl, my outfit is at the cleaners. My ratty old housecoat will have to do for now.

    But maybe for Christmas…?

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 17:49h, 21 December

    @Cheryl Arkison, good to know. We’ve been relying on braised dishes with a side salad. My mom fed us pasta bakes when we were kids and the kitchen was being renovated. Funny, I always associate that dish with renos. Didn’t think of injuries.

    Glad you’re back on your feet. I am looking to you for inspiration!