Healthy: Roasted Green Beans

Growing up green beans were these terrible canned green sticks my parents dumped on my dinner plate that tasted like metal. It took me a long time to get over the taste of those canned green beans before I could enjoy them again. Even now, I sometimes hesitate to eat green beans out of a fear that they will conjure up that terrible flavor. However, this recipe is an easy, healthy way to transform green beans into a delicious side dish that is very difficult to screw up. It's not quite as low calorie as steaming vegetables but on the other hand you aren't leaching out the vitamins like you do when you steam or boil vegetables. You can add other herbs or spices as you desire. I like to keep it simple but feel free to mix it up. You can use any kind of green beans. I particularly like french spring beans.

Roasted Green Beans Recipe

Details:

Serving size: 4
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Cook time: 12-15 minutes

Equipment:

• Oven
• Cooking sheet
• Measuring spoons
• Kitchen utensils
• Knife (optional)
• Large mixing bowl

 Ingredients:

• 1 lb. green beans
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil (or grape seed oil)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Cooking spray (or extra oil)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 425F. 

• Remove the tips of the green beans, if appropriate for the type of green beans you purchased.

• Put green beans in mixing bowl and mix with olive oil. Add salt and black pepper and continue to mix until green beans are thoroughly covered. If you do not have a light coat on all beans, add olive until covered.

• Optional: spray cooking sheet with cooking spray or apply a thin coat of oil to cooking sheet. Will help prevent sticking.

• Spread green beans out on cooking sheet.

• When oven is at 425F, add green beans and bake for 6 minutes. Remove green beans, stir and spread back out. Return to oven for 6-9 minutes until roasted.

Here is a more involved recipe that includes a sauce and some other ingredients: http://cafejohnsonia.com/2012/04/pan-roasted-green-beans-with-roasted-red-pepper-sauce.html.