I stumbled across some fantastic fresh and gorgeous green beans this morning that were also on sale, so I decided to buy them. The lemon butter method is my absolute favorite method to cook green beans. The rich butter and the fresh lemon flavor go perfectly with the delicate green beans. This is one of the “goes with anything” side dishes, so be sure to learn how to prepare them and cook them frequently.
THE “PERFECT” GREEN BEAN
The key to making these beans taste amazing is to avoid overcooking the beans. They should still contain a good amount of “tooth” to the texture and not have a raw taste. It should have bright and lively green instead of dull olive. This is the way to cook veggies correctly.
HOW LONG DO YOU STEAM GREEN BEANS?
The cooking time for each dish can vary depending on the size of your vegetables, the kind of cooker you’re using, and other elements that affect cooking time. Hence, this is something you must monitor and be sure to check regularly. I’ve found that I typically must cook my beans in steam for 3 to 5 minutes after boiling the water. It goes quickly!
DO I NEED A STEAMING BASKET?
Although the steaming pan may help, I no longer use these baskets. I put one or two inches of water inside the skillet and placed my green beans into the pot. They are half-steaming and half-boil. If you don’t cook them too much, It doesn’t matter whether they’re actually within the water or in the water, being struck by steam.
INGREDIENTS
One lb. green beans ($0.98)
1 TBSP butter ( $0.09)
One lemon ($0.59)
Salt and freshly cracked Pepper according to your preference ($0.05)
INSTRUCTIONS
Use a micro plane, zester, or a smaller-holed cheese grater to scrape that thin yellow layer from your lemon. Place the zest in a bowl. Take the stems off the green beans. Alternatively, should you prefer smaller pieces, break the beans in half. Put the beans into a filter and wash them well using cool water.
Transfer the cleaned green beans to a large pan. Add around one centimeter of fresh water (the water will not completely cover the beans). Put a lid over this skillet. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Let the water rise to a point of boiling. Allow the beans to boil and then steam for about 3-5 minutes or until the beans appear light green and tender. Examine the texture with a fork.
When the green beans have turned bright and tender, please switch off the heat and rinse them into a colander. The drained green beans should be returned to the warm skillet with the burner off.
Include the butter, around 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest, A quick squeeze of citrus juice (about one teaspoon), one pinch of salt, and freshly cracked Pepper. In a bowl, toss the beans for a good spice distribution, and let the remaining heat melt the butter.
After the butter has completely melted, taste the green beans and add salt, lemon juice, or lemon zest, according to your preference. Serve immediately.
