Fresh Green Beans Recipe

5 from 2 votes

This fresh green beans recipe keeps it simple, delicious, and nutritious with salt and pepper, butter, and a secret ingredient that makes the beans bright green and tender-crisp.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Total Time12

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 60

Author: Candace

Equipment

Ingredients

4 cups green beans 12 ounces
3 cups water more or less
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 Tablespoon butter
½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste

Instructions

Wash beans and trim ends.
To a skillet, add water, adding more or less to fill to about ½ inch deep. On high heat, bring water to a boil.
Add beans, then quickly sprinkle with baking soda, cover, and boil for 2 minutes, turning the heat down slightly if it starts to boil over. Check beans for doneness, cooking until they reach the desired texture.
Remove from heat and drain water (or use tongs to remove beans to a bowl).
Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Notes

Fresh green beans can be frozen raw in zippered bags for up to a year. It is recommended to blanch them first before freezing.
To blanch green beans:
1. Add green beans to boiling water and cook for 1 minute.
2. Drain green beans and immediately plunge into ice-cold water. This will stop the cooking process.
3. Pat beans dry and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from freezing to each other.
4. Transfer beans to a zip-top bag, add the date, and use within a year.

Nutrition