Simply Amazing Green Beans (no paper bag needed)

Sitting street-side on a bench, nearby to Miznon restaurant, I find myself eating green beans, one-by-one with my fingers, straight from a paper bag. I can’t wait to get home to eat them because they are irresistible. Why from a paper bag? Because that’s how they serve them and why my hands? Because on the walls it says, “FORKS AND KNIVES ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS, USE YOUR HANDS NOT YOUR MANNERS.”

These amazing beans are simple yet so satisfying - the crunch from the juicy, crisp-tender beans along with the perfectly-lemony-garlicky dressing, leaves me dreaming about them. They have since become my favourite lunch, veggie side dish and snack while watching tv. The recipe comes together in under 10 minutes with a few simple ingredients. Just cook, mix and eat. I hope this becomes your favourite too.

For the beans

400 g untrimmed green beans, rinsed (I prefer thinner beans for this recipe but all beans are good)

Zest of half small lemon

1 tsp lemon juice or more to taste

1 small clove garlic, minced

Olive oil, to coat the beans

Kosher salt, to taste

Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add beans and bring back to boil for 4-6 minutes or until crisp tender. (Thicker beans may take up to 8 minutes)

Meanwhile prepare a bowl with ice for an ice bath.

When beans are done drain and add to ice bath for one minute to stop from overcooking and retain their bright green colour.

After the one minute is up, pour beans back into the strainer, and without drying them, add directly to your serving bowl.

Pour olive oil over the beans and toss to coat. Add lemon zest, juice and garlic and toss again. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste, adjust lemon juice, do one last mix and serve.

Tip: buy a bunch of lemons, zest and juice them; freeze the juice in ice cube trays and put zest on parchment-lined tray. Once frozen they each go into their separate bags - ready to go when you need them!