Braised Wax Beans

Braised Wax Beans

I don’t always find these guys at the supermarket but when I do, I make a big pot and eat them hot or cold. I can have them as a meal with a piece of crusty bread or as a side. These beans just work with almost everything and they cook relatively quickly; plus, it’s a one pot meal. Win-win!

We’ll dive right into this one. It’s an easy-peasy recipe.

Serving Size:
6-8
Time:
45 min
Difficulty:
Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. wax beans
  • 5-6 Campari tomatoes or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped dill (it seems a lot but it makes the dish, trust me)
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Start by heating up the olive oil in your pan; add the minced garlic. Sauté for a few minute; you want fragrant, golden but not burned (burned garlic imparts a bitter flavor to the dish)
  2. Add the chopped tomatoes and the smoked paprika and cook over medium heat for about 4-5 min until the tomatoes start to disintegrate a bit but not stick to the pan.
  3. Add the wax beans, salt & pepper, mix and immediately cover. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, undisturbed for about 15 min. Check the beans: they should be cooked but not mushy; almost “al dente”.
  4. Sprinkle the dill, mix and serve.

All photos are the work of my very talented, professional photographer husband, Dariusz Terepka.