Description
Ina Garten’s flat beans with pecorino offer a delightful Mediterranean-inspired side dish that combines crisp green beans with salty, sharp cheese. Fresh ingredients and simple preparation make this recipe a quick, elegant addition to any seasonal meal you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) fresh Romano or flat beans, trimmed
- 4 to 5 ounces (113 to 142 grams) shaved aged Pecorino Romano cheese
Seasoning:
- 1.5 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoons sea salt or fleur de sel
- 0.75 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water and bring to a rolling boil, incorporating of kosher salt to enhance the vegetable’s natural flavor.
- Carefully submerge the trimmed green beans into the bubbling water, allowing them to cook for precisely 3 minutes until they reach a vibrant, crisp-tender texture.
- Promptly remove the beans using a slotted spoon or strainer, quickly transferring them to a colander to halt the cooking process and prevent overcooking.
- Transfer the blanched beans to a pristine serving platter, spreading them evenly to ensure optimal presentation and heat distribution.
- Generously drizzle extra virgin olive oil (approximately or 30 milliliters) across the beans, ensuring each bean receives a light coating.
- Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and sea salt over the beans, using approximately of each seasoning to create a balanced flavor profile.
- Gently toss the beans to distribute the olive oil and seasonings uniformly, maintaining the beans’ delicate structure.
- Crown the dish with delicate shavings of Pecorino Romano cheese, allowing the cheese to rest atop the warm beans and slightly melt.
- Serve immediately while the beans retain their warm temperature and vibrant green color, presenting a visually appealing and flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Maximize bean crispness by trimming ends precisely with a sharp knife for uniform cooking and elegant presentation.
- Boil beans for exactly three minutes to maintain their vibrant green color and tender-crisp texture without turning mushy.
- Grate Pecorino Romano fresh moments before serving to ensure maximum flavor and creamy, delicate cheese shavings.
- Prep ingredients beforehand to guarantee swift assembly and serve the dish piping hot for optimal taste experience.
- Select premium extra virgin olive oil as a final drizzle to elevate the entire dish’s richness and complement the beans’ natural flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg