Description
Ina Garten’s string beans with shallots elevate humble green beans with elegant French technique. Simple ingredients and classic preparation create a sophisticated side dish that delights dinner guests and complements many main courses.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) French string beans (haricots verts), ends removed
- 3 large shallots, large-diced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp good olive oil
- Kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Blanching: Fill a large pot with salted water, bringing to a vigorous boil. Submerge string beans for 90 seconds, maintaining their emerald vitality, then swiftly transfer to an ice water bath to arrest cooking and lock in color.
- Prepping Beans: Drain beans thoroughly, using kitchen towels to eliminate excess moisture, ensuring optimal flavor absorption and preventing sauce dilution.
- Shallot Foundation: In a spacious skillet, meld unsalted butter and olive oil over medium heat. Introduce finely minced shallots, allowing them to transform into golden-amber caramelized jewels through gentle, patient stirring.
- Combining Components: Marry the blanched beans with caramelized shallots, tossing delicately to create a harmonious blend. Elevate the dish with a judicious sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, ensuring each bean receives uniform seasoning.
- Final Flourish: Warm the beans for an additional 2-3 minutes, preserving their crisp essence while melding flavors. Plate immediately, presenting a vibrant, aromatic side dish that celebrates the natural brilliance of fresh string beans.
Notes
- Blanch with Precision: Cook beans exactly 90 seconds to maintain crisp texture and vibrant green color, avoiding overcooking.
- Ice Bath Technique: Immediately shock beans in ice water to stop cooking process, preserving nutritional value and preventing soggy vegetables.
- Shallot Caramelization Secret: Allow shallots to develop golden-brown color slowly over medium heat, which releases deep, sweet flavor profile.
- Moisture Management: Thoroughly dry beans after ice bath to ensure perfect sauté and prevent watery, diluted taste in final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Side Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg