A Fresh Spin on String Beans

Tired of droopy string beans dumped out of a can?  Add some zest and crisp to your meals with fresh string beans!  Here is a quick, easy, and super yummy way I like to cook fresh string beans from my garden. (String beans are often available in the fresh produce sections in local grocery stores.)

After washing the fresh string beans; I pinch of the ends and remove the "string".  This makes the beans less tough to chew.

I then warm some olive oil, fresh chopped garlic and fresh chopped herbs in a pan on medium heat.  I like to just go with the flow and throw in whatever I feel like. In the photo I used basil, rosemary and chives.  I have an herb garden but fresh herbs are often available in local markets though they can be expensive.  You may want to experiment with dried herbs, lemon juice, or even using water or chicken broth instead of oil.  I'll feature tips about growing and planting your own herbs in this blog in the future.

Once the herbs have wilted a little I toss in the string beans and stir them till they are coated.  I then stir them over the heat till they are tender yet crisp which happens very quickly.  I experimented with a purple variety of string bean this year. These turn green when cooked!  A fun veggie to grow with kids! This makes a great, very quick side I can throw together in a hurry and enjoy!