Sunday, February 16, 2014

Green beans with garlic

IMG_7966.jpg


Do you tend to prefer fresh vegetables over frozen ones? I guess most people would say "Yes". However, out of season - which depending on your location could be from October till May, like here in Estonia - fresh vegetables aren't always the best choice. That's a message Jamie Oliver is advocating in his latest TV series, Save with Jamie - out of season fresh vegetables are often way past their best, whereas frozen vegetables are harvested at their best and frozen within hours. They're often fresher than the fresh, so to say. They're definitely cheaper as well, helping you to save the pennies!

So here I am, in the middle of Estonian winter, cooking with frozen-fresh green beans, inspired by Jamie. Jamie served these garlicky green beans alongside his secret steak and chips and creamy mushroom gravy (here's the original recipe), I serve these simply as a vegetarian main course or alongside some grilled meat.

#glutenfree #Paleo #LCHF #lowcarb

Green beans with garlic
(Küüslauguoad)
Serves 4

400 g trimmed green beans (frozen)
olive oil
4 to 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
salt, to taste

Put the frozen green beans into a large frying pan. Add a generous lug of oil, and fry on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the beans defrost and any liquid has evaporated from the bans.

Add the garlic, turn down the heat and cook for another 5-8 minutes, until the beans are crispy and golden brown here and there.

5 comments:

Pene said...

Fried green beans sounds very interesting!
But I'm going to make the recipe for brussels sprouts with bacon (plus cashews) first.

Ruxandra said...

Very popular in Romania too.

Lily (A Rhubarb Rhapsody) said...

I tend to try and eat fresh produce when it's in season but I always have frozen peas stashed away, fresh peas are SO much more expensive, it's ridiculous. Beans are one of my all time favourite side dishes, I usually serve them with a little bit of butter, pepper and a squeeze of lemon but this sounds like a great alternative.

lucia said...

Hi!

Where are you living in estonia?

I am living in Tartu for a year.

You can see my blog at: estoniaxlat.blogspot.com


Please contact me! Maybe we could meet!

Lucia

Pille said...

Pene - do the sprouts first and then the beans!!!

Ruxandra - cool to know. What's your own favourite way of preparing green beans?

Lily - welcome to Nami-Nami! I have a lovely kitchen garden where I grow green beans as well - so obviously I prefer fresh when I can harvest some. But just now frozen ones will have to do (most "fresh" beans are flown in from Africa just now - just imagine the food miles they've acquired!!!).

Lucia - I'm from Tallinn, studied in Tartu for 4 years before moving to Scotland for 7 years. I'm now living in Viimsi - a lovely place just outside Tallinn. What are you up in Tartu?