Now that fall is here (or so they say), it’s time to spice up your dinner table with something yummy and festive. Harkening back to the hot days of summer (never mind that we’re still in the hot days of fall), we bring some snappy green beans together with lemon zest, garlic cloves, and red pepper flakes to keep it interesting.
This is one of our favorite go-to green dishes. It’s easy to see why: the balance of the tart lemon and the spicy (to me, anyway!) red pepper flakes gives each bite a unique twist.
- 2 pounds green beans (ends trimmed)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter (or use the same amout of EVOO)
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
Got your ingredients? Good! Let’s get this party started. Blanch your green beans in a pot of well salted boiling water until bright green and tenderly crisp. This should only take about 2 minutes. Drain and then shock your beans in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
Congratulations! Your beans are blanched – this process is not as difficult or complicated as I was once led to believe. Thank goodness for that!
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil (and the butter, if you’re using it). Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing until fragrant. 30 seconds. Add the beans and continue to sauté until they are coated and heated through, about 5 minutes. Add the lemon zest (I like to zest it right over the skillet!) and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Wasn’t that easy? It’s the perfect addition to your autumn table. I can’t wait to see what you make with them!
