Green Beans Recipe with Roasted Garlic, Nuts, and Stracciatella
This green beans recipe combines the freshness of green beans with the richness of roasted garlic, the crunch of nuts and seeds, and the creamy goodness of Stracciatella cheese. It's a perfect side dish for any summer gathering or a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 bulb of garlic
- 500 g fine green beans
- 50 g Hazelnuts
- 50 g walnuts
- 1 tspn of cumin seeds
- 1 tspn of Fennel seeds
- 1 tspn of coriander seeds
- 1 wedge lemon
- olive oil
- 100 g Stracciatella
- 50 g Parsley
Instructions
- Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 160°C. Take the full bulb of garlic and wrap it in tin foil with a teaspoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt. This will ensure that the garlic roasts to perfection. Place the wrapped garlic in the oven and let it cook for about 35 to 40 minutes or until it becomes soft and caramelized.
- Toast the Nuts and Seeds: While the garlic is roasting, let's work on the nuts and seeds. Add the hazelnuts, walnuts, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and coriander seeds to a roasting tray. Gently toast them in the oven until they become fragrant and release their wonderful flavors. Once done, set them aside to cool.
- Prepare the Green Beans: Wash the green beans thoroughly and trim off their tops and tails. Steam the green beans until they become soft but still retain a slight crunch. This will ensure they maintain their vibrant color and fresh taste.
- Season the Stracciatella: Take the Stracciatella cheese and spread it on a beautiful sharing plate. Season it with a pinch of salt and pepper, and then grate the zest of half a lemon over the cheese. The lemon zest will add a refreshing zing to the creamy cheese.
- Season the Green Beans: Once the green beans are tender, transfer them to a bowl and drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste, giving the beans a delightful citrusy twist.
- Assemble the Dish: Now it's time to bring all the components together. Arrange the seasoned green beans on top of the creamy Stracciatella cheese, creating a lovely bed for our roasted garlic.
- Add the Roasted Garlic: Retrieve the roasted garlic from the tin foil. The garlic should now be soft and caramelized, and you can easily squeeze the cloves out of their paper shells. Squeeze a few cloves of the roasted garlic over the green beans, adding a depth of flavor to the dish.
- Sprinkle with Nuts and Seeds: Using a pestle and mortar, crush the toasted hazelnuts, walnuts, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and coriander seeds into a delightful blend called "dukkah." Generously sprinkle the dukkah over the green beans and roasted garlic, adding a wonderful crunchy texture and nutty taste.
- Finish with Parsley and Olive Oil: Lastly, chop the parsley finely and scatter it over the dish, adding a touch of freshness and color. Drizzle some extra olive oil on top to enhance the flavors and create a glossy finish.
- There you have it - a scrumptious Summer Green Beans dish that's bursting with flavors and textures. The roasted garlic, toasted nuts, and creamy Stracciatella perfectly complement the tender green beans, making it a true celebration of seasonal ingredients. Enjoy this dish as a delightful side or as a light and wholesome main course. Happy cooking!
Notes
In this recipe, our garlic and fresh parsley is from Rich's moms allotment but we unfortunately don't grow our own green beans. If you are interested in starting you're own pod - this blog post from Mr.Fothergills on Growing Beans From Sowing To Harvest should have you covered.
