Stir-fry Green Beans with Garlic & Basil
For any given veggie, I may have 2-3 methods for preparation techniques. Depending on my mood I’ll steam, roast, grill, or sauté. However, with green beans, I stir-fry them exclusively because that seems to be the only way to really maximize their flavor. Steaming is too bland, and everything else is too harsh. However, there is one trick you have to know to make them fabulous. But first, for this version of sautéing here’s all you need:
- 1-2 lbs green beans, washed, tops removed as needed
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Optional - homemade chili oil
Wash and trim the beans. Prep the garlic and basil and set aside. (Note: I used a tremendous garlic clove, so don't be alarmed if your quantity appears less than the photo)Next comes the "parboiling." This is a technique which sounds fancy, but isn't difficult at all. Simply fill a sauté pan 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. When the water boils, add the beans and cook until barely tender. They should still be plenty crunchy when you bite. This usually takes 5-7 minutes.The goal in parboiling is to precook the food (in this case, beans) so the stir frying is quick. The key is to stop the cooking properly. So once you've taken a bite and decided it's slightly tender, rinse the beans under cold water.
If you California readers don't want to run the water, simply prepare a bowl with ice water and put the beans in the bowl to cool. Remove from water and pat dry. Otherwise, when you put them in the hot oil and they aren't dry, you'll have LOTS of splattering.
Heat the oil in a wok or sauté pan, swirling around to coat the bottom, until hot. Add the beans and toss every 20 seconds or so until lightly brown. Usually 3-4 minutes.Throw in the garlic and basil next and toss for 30-60 seconds. Any longer and the garlic will burn.Remove from heat then season with salt and pepper and a dash of chili oil if using. NOTE - the chili oil will add lots of heat, so only use if heat's what you like!
Serve with your favorite protein!!Enjoy!!