1 Pound Green Beans 1/2 Ounce Dried Roma Tomato Slices 1 tsp. Italian Spice Blend 1/4 tsp. Granulated Garlic, dry 1 Pinch Salt and Pepper 1 Lemon
Put a large pot of water onto the stove.
Set the temperature on high.
As water heats you can prepare the recipe.
Wash and drain the green beans.
Pull off the stem end and string that runs on the bottom side of the bean.
Cut the beans into long thin strips.
Cut all of the beans.
This particular style of slicing is known as cutting on the bias.
Here are two great items that I found at the La Quinta farmers market today.
I spoke to the woman who grows, dries and sells these items.
She is very knowledgeable and passionate about her products.
One is an Italian spice blend and the other is a thin, crisp dried roma tomato.
Break up and rough chop the dried tomatoes.
Water should be boiling by now.
Fill a mixing bowl with cold water and a few handfuls of ice cubes.
Place beans into the boiling water.
When water comes back to a boil, cook the beans for just under two minutes.
This time will vary based on thickness of the bean.
You should pluck out a bean every fifteen seconds and chew on it until beans are cooked to your liking.
While beans are boiling, fish-out and discard the ice cubes with a hand strainer.
Remove cooked beans from the stove and drain.
Immediately toss the steaming hot cooked beans into the cold water to stop the cooking process.
Leave beans in the cold water for a minute and strain again.
Place chilled beans and all other ingredients, minus lemon, into the mixing bowl and toss together.
To Serve: Place the beans onto a plate and squeeze with a good amount of lemon juice.
New Taste Thinking:
I never worry about the fat calories when creating a recipe because I always use only a small, reasonable amount of fat. Be it oil, nuts, avocado, animal fat or other, I am more interested in developing great flavors. As I was building this recipe I had in mind to marinade the beans in a little vinaigrette as I have done with other similar recipes. After tasting the recipe, as you see it here, I realized that no dressing was needed. I actually drizzled a bit of olive oil over a few beans and felt the oil added nothing to the amazing fresh natural taste of the ingredients.
On another subject, I was really impressed with the woman at the farmers market. She explained to me that the fresh herbs that did not sell today would not be discarded, rather they would be dried and turned into wonderful, high quality herbs and spices. I can testify to that!
