Sauteed Green Beans and Tomatoes with Garlic and Pine Nuts
Tender-crisp green beans are briefly blanched, then sauteed with garlicky cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, and a squeeze of lemon. This Italian-inspired vegan side is ready in about 15 minutes and uses just six ingredients plus salt.
Trim the green beans by snapping off the stem ends or lining them up on a cutting board and cutting off the stems.
1 pound fresh green beans
Prepare an ice bath by placing cold water and ice cubes in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a large skillet, bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the whole trimmed green beans to the pot. Allow to cook for about 2 minutes until they are bright green. Do not overcook the beans.
Immediately transfer the beans to the bowl of ice water, then drain when cool.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. (You can dry and use the same skillet used to cook the green beans.) Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 cloves garlic
Next add the tomatoes to the skillet and saute until soft, about 2 minutes.
1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes
Add the green beans to the skillet and toss to heat through, being careful not to overcook.
Finally, add the pine nuts, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt, to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy.
2 Tablespoon pine nuts, 1 squeeze lemon juice, salt
Notes
Green beans can be blanched in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container until you're ready to make the recipe.Leftovers will keep for 2 to 3 days refrigerated in an airtight container. Enjoy reheated or straight from the fridge.