Italian Green Beans

Green beans are essential for Thanksgiving! Every time my mom tried to make the classic creamy casserole when I was growing up, which is the easiest recipe in the world, she would always mess it up somehow! She could make the most technical things but for some reason wouldn’t be able to correctly make that simple casserole dish. She threw in the towel and started making Italian Green Beans and never looked back. This is a favorite of mine at Thanksgiving because it adds such a nice brightness to a meal that is pretty rich and dense. Truth be told, you can make this recipe basically any time of the year, but I love the idea of adding a new tradition to the Thanksgiving table.

The sauce in this recipe for Italian Green Beans is so delicious, I could eat it with a spoon by itself. If you want to make this ahead of time, make the sauce and store it in the fridge. When you are ready to eat, blanch the green beans in some boiling water and then let them finishing cooking in the sauce that has been reheating on the stove. Serve hot with fresh herbs! I promise, this dish is so easy and so delicious you will be making it all year round.

Italian Green Beans

1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans (I like hericot verts, aka thin French green beans) with the ends cut off

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 large shallots, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 15oz can diced tomatoes (you can also use canned whole tomatoes and crush them with your hands, that is what I like to do!)

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons freshly chopped (or torn) basil

2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

Directions:

Melt the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the shallots and a sprinkle of salt, cook until softened.

Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, being careful not to brown the garlic.

Add in the wine and let it cook for a couple minutes and then add in the tomatoes.

Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to marry. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling salted water for just about 30 seconds to a minute then drain the green beans and place them in the tomato sauce and allow them to finish cooking in the sauce.

Add in the fresh herbs and any additional salt and pepper that’s needed.

Serve hot!