Saturday, March 31, 2012

Simple Green Beans Almondine

Cooking food simply allows for the mindfulness to flow while you create a harmonious feast for the senses. Steaming is incredibly mindful and frugal as well. You don't lose any of the nutrition or flavor that you lose if you boil them in water. This particular recipe even gets an A rating on my nutrition analysis. You simply cannot make a more mindful dish than this.

Green Beans Almondine

Here's what you need:

1 pound fresh green beans 
one steamer basket that fits inside one of your pots that has a nice firmly fitted lid
1 T olive oil
juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed as you prefer
1/4 cup slivered blanched almonds (or whole raw if that is your preference)
fresh ground black pepper to taste
a tiny touch of sea salt is ok with this recipe, but NOT if you used salted almonds

What to do:

Rinse the beans and snap off the ends. You can leave them long or break them in half as you prefer. Place the beans inside the steamer basket.

Put about 2 inches of water in the pot - remember, the water should not rise above the steamer or the beans will sit in water.

Nestle the basket of beans in the pot and set it on medium heat. When the water starts to steam, cover with the lid. Steam for about 5-7 minutes. Depending on how old or how large your beans are, it may take a couple more minutes. Don't fret the time, simply steam them until they can be easily pierced with a fork, or taste one and stop the steam when they are the way you like them.

Carefully lift the steamer out of the pot and transfer them to a pretty bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, almonds, black pepper, and salt if you are using it to the beans and toss gently. 

Enjoy this mindfully simple recipe in the spring when fresh green beans are filling the market place with inexpensive goodness. Enjoy.

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