What Goes With Green Beans?
Green beans provide a unique sweetness and a crisp texture that can elevate many recipes. Also, this vegetable is extremely versatile and can be cooked and served in different ways too.
What goes with green beans? Green beans can be used in and paired with salads, hot dogs, sandwiches, baked potatoes, BBQ, and much more. The slightly sweet flavor and crispy and firm texture of the beans are prized as it provides an excellent contrast in many dishes.
Read below to learn more about green beans, what they go with, and how you can cook them to get the most out of their delicious flavor!
What Are Green Beans?
Green beans are the young and unripe cultivars of the common bean plant. These vegetables are plucked before they mature which is why they look so different from any type of regular and mature legume.
These vegetables can be found all over the world and are produced the most in China!
Green beans are also extremely common in North America as well. The beans are tightly contained within fibrous pods and the unshelled versions of this vegetable can be found in the frozen food section of most supermarkets.
On their own, the beans taste like peas with a slightly sweeter flavor. Raw green beans have a firm and crispy texture that can be rendered via heat which gives them a tender and slightly mushy mouthfeel.
The best thing about this vegetable is that it can be paired with several types of dishes, and because they provide such a balanced flavor, the beans can be used in both meaty and vegetable-based recipes!
What Main Dish Goes With Green Beans?
Green beans are popularly used in salads but can also be paired with several main dishes too. Here are some great dinner dishes with green beans:
Sauteed Green Beans
One of the best ways to serve green beans is to sauté them in oil and minced garlic.
Trim the beans on each side and then wash them before adding them to a pan with olive oil. Mix in the garlic and add a bit of salt to taste. Cook the beans for 5-8 minutes and serve while hot!
This is a simple yet extremely delicious dinner dish that showcases and relies on the unique texture of these beans. Want more out of the flavor of this dish? Then add a bit of butter with the oil before sautéing the beans!
Green Beans With Steak
A succulent and deliciously seasoned steak with a serving of crunchy steamed green beans on the side is a meal fit for a king!
The tender and juicy bite of the steak and the satisfyingly chewy texture and earthy-sweet flavor of the beans is an excellent way to get the most out of a steak dinner.
Next time, try ditching the mashed potatoes and serve the steak with the beans. We guarantee that this combo will bring together all the elements on your plate in a very delicious way!
Spiced Potatoes And Green Beans
This vegetable recipe is nutritious and extremely delicious!
Inspired by Asian flavors, all you need is to sauté chopped onions until slightly brown and then add in the chopped beans and potatoes along with a sprinkle of chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder.
Season with salt and pepper and cook the beans until they are adequately tender! This dish can be served as a main course and can be eaten as it is, or with rice too!
Green Bean Salad
This is perhaps one of the most classic ways to use green beans. Steam or boil the green beans in salted water for no more than 5-6 minutes. Drain and set them aside.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix in your favorite vegetables along with the cooked beans. We recommend a mix of leafy vegetables as they will provide a great contrast with the crunchiness of the beans.
Sprinkle with salt and optionally add a dash of balsamic vinegar and voila! This green bean salad can be enjoyed on its own and can also be served on the side for any type of dinner dish as well!
Green Beans And Bacon
Green beans and bacon—need we say more? If you haven’t tried this addictive recipe then get ready to have your taste buds blown!
The combo of buttery bacon and crispy beans is going to provide a healthy balance of greens and protein!
Start by boiling the beans in salted water for about 5 minutes. Drain and set them aside. Now cook the bacon in a large pot with a small piece of salted butter.
Remove the bacon pieces and then add chopped onions and cook until translucent.
Now add chopped garlic, chili flakes, and the pre-cooked green beans. Drizzle just a dash of lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and serve!
Related Questions
Several other delicious dinner recipes take advantage of green beans and since this vegetable is highly versatile, you can experiment with different combinations and come up with fun recipes of your own!
Here are some related questions for green beans!
Can green beans be air-fried?
Yes, green beans can be air-fried! Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and add the green beans to the cooking basket along with salt and pepper.
Mix well and cook for about 8 minutes or until the beans are crispy and tender.
Can you eat raw green beans?
While you may be able to eat a few green beans without consequence, you should always cook them before consumption because they are high in lectin which can cause nausea, diarrhea, and other stomach problems.
Cooking the beans breaks down the toxin and makes them safe to eat.
If you’re looking for some more green bean recipes, here’s a great one from the folks over at Tasty!
