More green beans recipes

Green beans should have a bright, strong colour, with crisp pods with a satin-like sheen. They should not look wilted, discoloured or brown. They are best eaten when young and tender. To tell how fresh they are, snap one in half. The ‘snap’ should be clean and clear. Don’t buy them if the ‘snap’ is lacking, and if the insides do not seem juicy when you break them open. Home-grown green beans are in season from June to September.

Store in a paper bag in the salad drawer of the fridge and use within 3-4 days. To freeze beans, wash them well then top and tail. Blanch, plunge into iced water, drain well and pack in polythene bags. Cook them from frozen in boiling, salted water.

Top and tail and either boil briefly, steam or stir-fry. Toss in butter and serve as an accompaniment to meat and fish dishes. Add to salad Niçoise or cut into short lengths for vegetable soups. As the home-grown season advances, the pods may become more fibrous, so they are best used in curries and vegetable stews.

More green beans recipes

Chicken spring rolls

Thai salmon fish cakes

Easy tuna Niçoise salad

Potato and green bean salad

Beachside paella

Thai green fish curry

Garlic green beans

Fresh turmeric and peppercorn curry with prawns

Air fryer salmon with warm potato salad

Spiced green bean and tomato stew

Egg-fried rice

Almond chicken curry

Fermented vegetables and kimchi

Stuffed aubergines with peanut sauce

Creamy white wine chicken

Low-fat chicken and mushroom pie

Vegan shepherd’s pie with lemon and garlic Tenderstem broccoli

Lemongrass and coriander cod

Grilled salmon Niçoise

Anchovy salade Niçoise

Crispy new potatoes with summer vegetables

Crispy salmon salad

Peanut and ’nduja roast chicken thighs

Chicken kyiv

Buyer's guide

Storage

Preparation

Varieties of green beans

French beans

Runner beans

Typically made with green beans

Niçoise salad

Other beans

Black bean

Black eyed beans

Borlotti beans

Broad beans

Butter beans

Cannellini beans

French beans

Haricot beans

Runner beans

Soya beans

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