Description
Ina Garten’s string beans with shallots elevate garden-fresh green beans into an elegant side dish. Silky caramelized shallots and crisp beans create a sophisticated harmony that brings simple vegetables to new culinary heights for dinner guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) French string beans (haricots verts), ends removed
Seasoning:
- Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Aromatics and Fats:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon good olive oil
- 3 large shallots, large-diced
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot by filling it with water and adding a generous pinch of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Carefully lower the fresh string beans into the boiling water and cook for approximately 90 seconds, ensuring they remain crisp and vibrant green.
- Quickly drain the beans using a colander and immediately transfer them to a bowl filled with ice water, which will halt the cooking process and preserve their bright color and snappy texture.
- In a spacious skillet, combine unsalted butter and olive oil, heating the mixture over medium temperature until the butter melts and begins to shimmer.
- Add finely chopped shallots to the butter-oil blend, stirring periodically and allowing them to caramelize and develop a rich golden-brown color, which typically takes 7-9 minutes.
- Remove the string beans from the ice bath and pat them thoroughly dry using clean kitchen towels or paper towels to prevent water diluting the flavors.
- Introduce the dried string beans to the skillet with caramelized shallots, tossing gently to ensure even coating and distribution.
- Season the beans with of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, carefully mixing to ensure each bean is uniformly seasoned.
- Continue heating the beans for an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring they are warmed through while maintaining their delightful crispness.
- Transfer the aromatic string beans to a serving dish and present immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Fresh green beans burst with crisp, garden-fresh flavor when selected carefully from local markets or farmer’s stands.
- Blanching technique locks in nutrients and creates a perfectly tender-crisp texture that elevates the entire dish.
- Shallots transform from sharp to mellow when cooked slowly, releasing deep caramelized sweetness that complements the beans’ natural earthiness.
- Butter adds rich, silky depth and helps create a glossy coating that makes every bite luxuriously smooth.
- Ice water stops the cooking process instantly, preserving bright green color and maintaining the beans’ delightful crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Side Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg