Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

Ingredients

Before you start

• •
  Trim the ends off the green beans.
• •
  Mince 1 to 2 cloves of garlic.
• •
  Taste a raw green bean — it should be tender-ish and slightly sweet, not bitter or stringy. If stringy and starchy, blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes then drain.▶5:00
• •
  Preheat a large heavy pan or cast iron skillet on a large element at medium heat for 5 minutes, then add olive oil and ensure it covers the whole pan. Wait 1 minute.▶5:00

Instructions

1. 1.
   Place the green beans in the hot oiled skillet and immediately toss gently with tongs.
2. 2.
   Reduce heat to medium-low.
3. 3.
   Toss the beans every minute or so until they start to brown and two-thirds of them begin to lose their water and shrivel up. This will take about 45 minutes.▶45:00
4. 4.
   Turn the heat off.
5. 5.
   While the pan is still hot, add the minced garlic and toss the beans with tongs until the garlic is well distributed.
6. 6.
   Drizzle with balsamic reduction if desired, then serve.