Great Green Beans Several Ways

Boiled green beans truly bore me, so I make a point of growing green, yellow and purple for some excitement.  And, over the years, I have found a few great ways to eat them. 

One is cold - Bean Salad

2 cups fresh beans, sliced long ways into thin stips

olive oil 1/4 cup or more to taste

red wine vinegar 1/4 cup or more to taste

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

salt, pepper

optional crushed red pepper flakes

Par boil the beans for 3-4 minutes and then drain and fill the pot with cold water, placing the beans back in to stop the cooking process and allow them cool quickly.  Refresh with cool water several times until the beans have no warmth. Drain well.  Stir about with a fork periodically to get them as dry as possible.

Add in the minced garlic, salt and pepper, the vinegar and oil. Chill for at least one hour, stir and serve

The other is hot - Sautéed Beans 

2 lbs fresh beans

1/2 red sweet pepper, 1/4 in mince

2 tbsp oil oil

1-2 gloved minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

3 slices of bacon

Cook the bacon slices and allow to drain and cool

Boil the beans in salted water for 5-6 minutes, until just tender

In a frying pan, add the oil and gentle sauté the minced peppers until softening.  Next add in the beans and sauté them as well.  Add the minced garlic and sauté an additional minute. Add salt and pepper. Serve hot, topped with bacon bits