Phred wrote:

> G'day mates,
>
> The local minor supermarket has had reasonable quality fresh green
> beans on special this week. (Usually beans on special are pretty past
> their prime; but this lot seems to be okay.)
>
> Question is, what is a good way to handle a surfeit of beans?
> Something a bit beyond boiling or steaming would be nice. :-)
>
> Had a bit of a google, but there seem to be around 350,000
> possibilities for "recipe fresh green beans", so I thought it would be
> nice to ask this group for "favo[u]rites". I can almost taste a dish
> based on various combinations of beans with bacon, tomatoes,
> mushrooms, etc. -- but I can't quite put my finger on the defining
> ingredient(s). Help!


A favorite and very simple (it's an ostensibly Vietnamese recipe via Madhur
Jaffrey). Roughly:

- start to stir fry some ground pork in a wok/skillet

- add whilst the pork is frying: soy or fish sauce, garlic, diced hot
peppers (Thai bird peppers, even red bell peppers will work fine), some
brown sugar

- add green beans and cover (you may want to add some more liquid, e.g.
broth or water) until done. Serve as is or over rice

- You can alter this recipe by using differents meats, fish , tofu,
vegetables, whatever...it's just about as simple a recipe as can be. The
combination of hot pepper and sweet brown sugar makes for a nice taste
contrast...

NOTE: I like to use Chinese long ("snake") beans with this, too...

--
Best
Greg