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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Published: Feb 18, 2016 · Modified: Jun 15, 2016 by Bridget · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Mediterranean Green Beans

    This could be a side dish OR an appetizer.

    Mediterranean Green Beans make an easy and healthy side dish or appetizer. Great piping hot or at room temperature. Enjoy! | The Recipe Wench

    These Mediterranean green beans can be served piping hot OR at room temperature.

    . . . And do I dare admit I may have actually enjoyed a serving straight from the fridge?

    Mediterranean Green Beans make an easy and healthy side dish or appetizer. Great piping hot or at room temperature. Enjoy! | The Recipe Wench

    Mediterranean green beans are going to be making a frequent appearance at our dinner table.

    The recipe I started with required baking in the oven for awhile.

    I'm opting to cook on the stove top -- especially as our weather warms up.

    Southern Italy can get miserably hot in the summer.

    So, I'm always supportive of dishes that don't generate so much heat in the kitchen!

    ENJOY! - The Recipe Wench

    Mediterranean Green Beans

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    Mediterranean Green Beans
    Serves 8
    Prep time 10 minutes
    Cook time 25 minutes
    Total time 35 minutes
    Meal type Appetizer, Side Dish
    From magazine Cook's Illustrated
    A rich tomato sauce livens up these green beans. Perfect as a healthy side dish or appetizer. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    Ingredients

    • ¼ Cup olive oil
    • ½ Medium onion, finely diced
    • 4 Cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 Cups water
    • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1-½ Pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch pieces
    • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (I prefer petite diced)
    • 1 Teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ Teaspoon pepper

    Note

    This recipe for Mediterranean green beans is slightly adapted from one I found on Cook's Illustrated.  The baking soda will help to tenderize the green beans.  My big tip would be to make sure the green beans don't overcook -- they are finished once they reach the firm/tender stage.

    Enjoy! - The Recipe Wench

    Directions

    Step 1
    Heat olive oil in a large skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat
    Saute onions for about 2-3 minutes
    Add garlic and continue cooking for another minute
    Add water, baking soda, cayenne pepper and green beans
    Bring to a simmer and cook for about 6 minutes
    Stir in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper
    Cover and cook over low heat until green beans are fork-tender (start checking after 10 minutes)

    Mediterranean Green Beans make an easy and healthy side dish or appetizer. Great piping hot or at room temperature. Enjoy! | The Recipe Wench

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karrie says

      September 01, 2021 at 12:21 am

      I wanted to also mention that we had this as a side dish to another Mediterranean dish, and it complemented it SO WELL! The main course was, "Juicy Grilled Whole Chicken, Mediterranean-Style" (© 2021 The Mediterranean Dish, via: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/whole-grilled-chicken/).
      Reply
    2. Karrie says

      September 01, 2021 at 12:01 am

      This is a great dish! Though...I can never leave a recipe alone; I always have to tweak it, somehow. ...So, the way I played with this dish, is by using a can of (mild) chili diced tomatoes, in place of the normal diced tomatoes, adding a few (3) homegrown/dried leaves of Basil, and a very small sprinkling of powdered oregano. Then, after plating, topped each serving with a tsp of shredded Asiago! It was so good, before....now, I kinda can't stop eating it! Thank you for introducing us to a new family favorite!!
      Reply
    3. revisfoodography says

      February 19, 2016 at 12:18 am

      Looks so beautiful and delicious. I would be happy to have just the green beans for the whole meal :-)
      Reply
      • Bridget says

        February 20, 2016 at 5:58 pm

        Add some fresh, hot baguette and that would make an awesome meal!
        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Bridget! So glad you're here! I'm a former legal secretary, now wife, mother, grandmother and full-time blogger. My husband Jeff and I live in Colorado with our doggies. My favorite things are family, doggies, gardening and cooking!.

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