Basque String Green Beans Recipes

BASQUE POTATO AND GREEN BEAN SOUP WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Place the potatoes, one tablespoon of salt and the water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are nearly soft through, about 15 minutes. Add the green beans and cook, uncovered, until they start to turn tender and lose their bright green color, about 15 minutes.
• While the beans and potatoes are cooking, heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the sliced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until it turns golden brown, about five to eight minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• When the beans and potatoes are cooked, add the garlic and olive oil to the soup and stir. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired, and serve immediately.

CURRIED STRING / GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Sauté onion in oil until lightly browned.
• Add garlic and sauté briefly.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Add water to just barely cover string beans.
• Mix well.
• Partially cover and cook on low flame for approximately 40 minutes,until string beans are tender and liquid is partially absorbed (the sauce should be thick).

GARLIC STRING/GREEN BEANS (FIT FOR LIFE)

Steps:

• In large heavy saucepan, heat oil.
• Add garlic and beans, and saute over high heat to sear beans, stirring frequently so they do not burn.
• Add thyme, sea salt, and pepper to taste.
• Add water and bouillon.
• Bring to boil, cover tightly, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until beans are tender when pierced with tip of sharp knife.
• Add more water, if necessary.
• Frozen beans will take only half the time.
• Add squeeze of lemon juice and toss well.
• Original recipe states it serves 2 but it easily will serve four as a side dish.

THE BEST BASQUE BEANS

Steps:

• Combine beans and water in large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Meanwhile, cook chorizo over medium heat in skillet until brown, breaking up as little as possible. Drain and set aside. When beans are finished soaking, drain and return to pot. Add beef broth, pork, onions, garlic, bay leaf and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Add chorizo, salt and pepper and simmer, uncovered, until beans are very tender and broth thickens slightly, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf.

BASIC BASQUE BEANS

Steps:

• Wash and pick over beans to discard any stone or other debris. After preliminary preparation, add fresh cold water (hot water toughens them) to about 2 inches above beans.
• Add soup bones or ham hocks. Bring to a boil and skim off the foam that forms. After beans have simmered covered for about 45 minutes, and are beginning to soften, add the rest of the ingredients. (If onion or salt is added in the beginning, the beans may toughen).
• Continue cooking for about 45 minutes, or until beans are very tender. Adjust seasoning to taste.

HELEN'S CREAMY GARLIC STRING / GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• In a pan put your string beans and potatoes.
• Pour enough water to go up about 1/2 way.
• Add salt.
• Cover.
• And bring to a boil.
• Cook until potatoes and beans are tender.
• Drain water into a large measuring cup.
• Take a small iron skillet, melt butter, add enough flour to make a roux to thicken the beans with.
• When the roux is a good golden color add the garlic and saute but do not brown the garlic.
• Add some of the bean/potato liquid to the roux and stir constently until you get the consistency of sauce you would like for your beans.
• Before you add the sauce, use your wooden spoon.
• With the back of the spoon mash a few of the potatoes so they will blend with the sauce, but leave others whole.
• Mix everything together and cook just a few moments until the beans and potatoes have taken on a little of the flavor of the sauce.
• Taste to make sure there is enough salt.
• If not this is the time to add it.
• Last but not least just before serving stir in 1 Tblsp. sour cream.

BASQUE STRING / GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp; remove from skillet. Add onion and garlic to o1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Cook until tender on low heat.
• In a saucepan, combined tomato sauce, onion, garlic, and bacon; bring to a boil. Add drained string beans and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season to taste.
• If using fresh or frozen beans, cook until tender.