Before anyone gets on my case about whether green beans are Paleo, I eat them when they’re in season because they’re more pod than bean, and because Robb Wolf, Mark Sisson, and Whole9 say it’s a-OK. So there.
My favorite way to cook these green pods is to roast them in a hot oven after they’ve been tossed with melted fat and lightly drizzled with fish sauce. When they come out of the oven, they’re tender yet roast-y, and a spritz of citrus ties everything together.
Here’s what to gather to feed 4 people as a side dish:
- 1 pound green beans, stem ends removed
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, ghee, or fat of choice
- 1 teaspoon Red Boat Fish Sauce (or coconut aminos, if you want to go vegetarian)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Juice from half a lime or lemon
Here’s what to do:
Preheat the oven to 450°F with the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Grab your washed and trimmed green beans and make sure they are bone dry.
Throw them on the baking sheet and coat the green beans with fat, fish sauce (or coconut aminos), and a few grinds of pepper.
Arrange the beans in a single layer on the tray…
…and pop them in the oven for 20 minutes, tossing the beans at the midway point.
The beans are ready when the skins are wrinkly and dotted with browned spots. Squeeze on the juice from half a lime or lemon and serve immediately.
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013) and Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017)!
