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Fresh Shell Bean and Green Bean Ragout

A mixture of fresh green beans (haricots verts, yellow wax beans, romano beans, or Blue Lake beans) makes this dish both beautiful and tasty. Each variety cooks in a different amount of time, so cook them separately. The same water can be used. Cook yellow wax beans first, to preserve their color. A variety of shell beans can be used as well, but once again, be sure to cook different beans separately.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound fresh shell beans (such as cranberry, cannellini, or flageolet)
3/4 pound green beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons chopped savory, marjoram, or parsley
Salt
Fresh-ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Shell: 1 pound fresh shell beans (such as cranberry, cannellini, or flageolet)

    Step 2

    Cook the beans in lightly salted boiling water until creamy and tender. Start checking after 15 minutes. When they are done, let the beans cool in their cooking liquid.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, snap off the stem ends, and pull off the tails if dry or tough, from: 3/4 pound green beans.

    Step 4

    Cut into 1-inch bite-size pieces. Cook until tender in salted boiling water, drain, and spread out on a baking sheet or plate to cool.

    Step 5

    Heat in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat: 2 tablespoons olive oil.

    Step 6

    Add: 1 onion, diced.

    Step 7

    Cook until translucent, about 10 minutes, then add: 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped, 2 teaspoons chopped savory, marjoram, or parsley, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.

    Step 8

    Cook for 4 minutes. Drain the shell beans, reserving their cooking liquid. Stir the shell beans and 3/4 cup of their liquid into the onions. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Stir in the green beans and return to a boil. Turn down the heat and cook for another minute or so to warm the beans through. Taste for salt and add more as needed. Serve with a drizzle of: Extra-virgin olive oil.

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