Simple Green Beans with Olive Oil and Shallots
Simple Green Beans with Olive Oil and Shallots- an easy side item that even the pickiest of eaters will love!
Hello from the land of empty boxes! We finally finished unpacking but are still in the midst of getting everything organized. I was hoping to be back in action this week but as it turns out moving across country is a tad more consuming than I anticipated.
The good news is that I have several recipes ready and waiting to be shared with you guys like these super simple green beans. I made them last year for Thanksgiving when Brandon’s dad and his wife (AKA the pickiest on the face of the planet) came to visit us.
It’s always a challenge to figure out what to cook for them seeing how we’re both vegetarians and they usually don’t venture far from meat and potatoes. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when she actually tried the green beans and almost fell out my chair when she asked me for the recipe.
Normally I wouldn’t share something this simple but I figure it might come in handy for those of you that might have picky eaters in your family too. The best part is that it only requires 4 ingredients, 2 of which you probably already have in your pantry.
The key to getting the best flavor is to use a high quality extra virgin olive oil. I like California Olive Ranch because I can trust that it’s not blended with any other shady oils. This isn’t sponsored, although I would love to work with them. It’s just that ever since hearing about the Italian mafia messing with imported olive oil, I try my best to stick to local sources. California olive oil is where it’s at.
To prepare the green beans all you have to do is boil them for about 3 minutes then cool them off with an ice bath. This stops the cooking process so that they’re still crisp and green, but tender enough to eat.
Then we add them to a large skillet with the cooked shallots in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and BOOM. Picky eater green beans are at your service.
If you want to prep them for the holidays, you can turn off the heat under the skillet and wait to warm them until you’re just about ready to serve everything else. Really they make a great side item for any occasion, even if it’s just a normal dinner. I hope everyone loves them!
Simple Green Beans with Olive Oil and Shallots
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 25
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
- 1/4 cup quality extra virgin olive oil (I like California Olive Ranch)
- 2 cups diced shallots (approx. 4 shallots)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add the green beans. Cook just until tender but still crisp, for about 3-5 minutes. Drain the boiling water and rinse with cold water. Add ice to the pot with more cold water, until the green beans have cooled and the cooking process is stopped. Strain and set aside.
In a large skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and salt then cook for 5 minutes, until translucent. Transfer the green beans to the skillet and toss until they are evenly coated and warm. Add more salt (to taste), serve warm and enjoy!
Click Here for Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts are for one serving
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback! 
The Italian mafia, what?! I’m off to google what’s in my olive oil now, haha. I hope the unpacking process is going well!!
haha oh gosh I feel your pain! We moved back in August and STILL haven’t gotten completely unpacked / organized due to all the ongoing renovations! It’s so hard getting anything done for me (I like need everything in its place to function! lol). Good luck with getting settled!!
And these green beans sound wonderful!
I love green beans like this. I make them like this all the time. :) I’d never heard about the Italian mafia messing with olive oil. That is sketchy! I’ll have to remember that in the future when I buy more.
Glad to hear you’re on your way to getting organized after the big move — it’s so time consuming unpacking! Simple dishes are sometimes the best, and I’m glad you posted this! This is a dish I could eat all by myself and I’m not ashamed to admit it — I love all those shallots! This is the perfect Thanksgiving side…who needs casserole?
Simple is almost always best ;) These look so tasty, I’m always too lazy to blanche but I need to do this more often. They have the best texture!
Beautiful pictures! Simplicity at its best! :)
I feel like simple side dishes are the best when you’re planning a holiday season gathering! Then you can focus on more important things….like dessert! :) I hear you on finding it a challenge to cook for certain family members. Sounds like you’re mastering it though!
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