Seared Green Beans: The Perfect Pan Fry

Pan-searing fresh green beans is a quick and easy way to add a delicious side dish to any meal. With just a few simple steps, you can transform fresh green beans into a tasty and healthy addition to your dinner table.

First, make sure you start with fresh, firm, and brightly-coloured green beans. Avoid any beans with brown spots or blemishes. Then, trim the stem ends from the beans - you can do this quickly by lining them up and using a sharp knife to cut them all at once.

Next, you'll want to cook the beans. The most popular method is blanching, where you boil the beans for 2-3 minutes and then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. You can also steam the beans or pan-fry them in hot oil to give them a blistered, browned finish.

Finally, add your seasonings and aromatics. Garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper are classic choices, but you can also get creative with additions like mustard, nuts, cheese, or fresh herbs.

And that's it! You now have a simple, tasty, and healthy side dish to enjoy.

Choosing the right green beans

Colour

A green bean should be green! Avoid beans with yellowish or brownish hues, as these indicate that they are past their prime. Opt for beans that are brightly coloured and vibrant.

Skin Texture

Examine the surface of the bean. Choose beans with smooth and tight skin. Avoid beans with weathered bumps, lumps, or creases, as these may affect their taste and texture.

Size

When it comes to green beans, bigger is not always better. Larger or thicker beans tend to be tough or stringy, and you may lose that sharp, fresh green bean flavour. Go for beans that are of medium size.

Firmness

Select beans that feel firm to the touch. They should have a good snap to them. Bend the pod and listen for that familiar snapping sound—this indicates they are ripe and ready to be cooked.

Freshness

Green beans are at their best during their peak growing season: summer and early fall. Try to use them as soon as possible after purchasing to ensure maximum freshness and sweetness. If you can, opt for unrefrigerated fresh green beans from a farm stand or local market.

Trimming

While it is not necessary to remove the tail end of a green bean, you will want to trim the tip of the stem end. Line up the beans so the tips are even, and use a sharp knife to cut them off in one slice. This will ensure they cook evenly and prevent over-drying.

By following these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to choosing the perfect green beans for your pan-seared dish. Remember to look for bright, firm beans with smooth skin and a vibrant green colour.

Trimming the beans

Firstly, it's important to use fresh, firm, bright green beans without any yellow or brown spots or blemishes. Before you begin trimming, rinse the beans in a colander under cool running water.

Now, for the trimming! Line up a handful of beans so that their stem ends are facing the same direction. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut off the stem ends all at once. You only need to trim the stem end as the pointy tip doesn't need to be cut off. This method is much faster than breaking them off by hand. Be careful to only trim as little as possible to avoid the beans soaking up too much water during cooking.

If you want to get creative with the presentation, you can trim just one side or leave the little tail attached. Alternatively, you can snap off the ends instead of cutting them.

And that's it! You've successfully trimmed your green beans and are now ready to move on to the next step of pan-searing them to perfection.

Blanching the beans

Blanching is a great way to prepare your green beans before pan-searing them. It's a simple process that only takes a few minutes and will ensure your beans are cooked perfectly. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Beans and Water

Start by rinsing your green beans in a colander under cool running water. Snap off the stems and trim the ends. You can use a sharp knife or kitchen shears for this step. Be careful not to trim too much, as this will cause the beans to soak up too much water during cooking. While you're preparing the beans, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. It's important to use a large pot so that the water temperature recovers quickly after adding the beans.

Step 2: Blanch the Beans

Once the water is boiling, carefully drop the trimmed beans into the pot. You'll want to cook the beans for around 2 to 3 minutes. They should turn a vibrant bright green colour and have a crisp-tender texture.

Step 3: Chill the Beans

As soon as the beans are done, transfer them to a bowl of ice water. This step is crucial to stop the cooking process and ensure your beans don't overcook. Let them chill in the ice water for at least 15 seconds, or until they are completely cooled.

Step 4: Drain and Dry the Beans

After chilling, drain the beans and spread them out on a kitchen towel or paper towels to dry. This step will help ensure your beans aren't too wet when you add them to the skillet, which can cause the hot butter or oil to spatter.

And that's it! Your green beans are now ready for the next steps in your pan-searing process. You can follow recipes such as pan-fried green beans by Alain Ducasse, which involves tossing the beans in butter and garlic and sautéing them. You can also get creative with seasonings and spices to add extra flavour to your beans.

Adding aromatics

Aromatics are flavour-enhancing vegetables and fragrant, woodsy herbs. They can be added to green beans to give them a rich, robust essence.

The aromatics used are usually onions, carrots, garlic, and celery, and then heartier, woodsy herbs, like rosemary, sage, and thyme, which marry beautifully with the earthy-sweet flavour of beans. If using rosemary, sage, and thyme, you might put a sprig of each in the pot; if you only have one of them, then adding a couple of sprigs will suffice.

It's not necessary to be too fussy about the specifics, and you can be extremely casual about quantities. If you don't have celery and carrots, for example, you can just toss in an onion and a few cloves of garlic, plus the herbs. If you don't have any herbs, it's probably not worth a special shopping trip just to get them.

However, it can be fun to experiment, and you can also keep the geographic origins of the dish you're making in mind. For instance, you might add some leftover fennel bulb or fronds to your bean pot one day, or perhaps reach for a different herb, like Mexican epazote, if you're going to be making refried beans.

How to add aromatics

You can simply toss the vegetables into the pot and deal with fishing them out later, which can be a little tricky after slowly simmering them to the point of turning them to mush. As for the herbs, you can tie up rosemary and thyme with some kitchen twine (or stash them in a tea infuser), since their small leaves can otherwise fall off and get scattered throughout the pot.

If you want to be particularly obsessive about retrieving every last bit of the aromatics, you can tie them all up in a cheesecloth bundle, making their ultimate removal extremely easy.

Finishing with a special touch

Now that you've cooked your green beans to perfection, it's time to add that extra something to elevate your dish. Here are some mouth-watering ideas to finish your pan-seared green beans with a special touch:

Nuts and Herbs

Add a handful of nuts like slivered almonds, pine nuts, or walnuts for a crunchy texture and earthy flavour. Fresh herbs such as basil, thyme, or parsley will also brighten up your dish with their aroma and colour.

Citrus Twist

A squeeze of lemon or lime juice can add a tangy freshness to your beans. For an extra zesty kick, add some lemon zest or grated citrus peel.

Spicy Notes

If you like it hot, add a dash of red pepper flakes, chilli flakes, or Sriracha sauce to your beans. This will give your dish a nice spicy kick.

Savoury Toppings

For a savoury delight, sprinkle on some grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled goat cheese, or feta cheese. You could also add a spoonful of Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard for an extra tangy flavour.

Aromatic Touch

Aromatics like chopped onion, garlic, or shallots can add depth and flavour to your beans. Sauté these aromatics until they're fragrant and softened, then add your beans back into the mix.

Sweet and Savoury

For a unique flavour combination, try adding a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or honey to your beans. This will give your dish a sweet and savoury taste that's sure to surprise and delight your taste buds.

With these special touches, your pan-seared green beans will be transformed into a truly memorable side dish that will impress and satisfy your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions