Garlic Green Beans

Jamie Stolper

Simple, but delicious, this vegetable will complement almost any entrée.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon chopped garlic (approx. 2 cloves)

Rinse and trim the green beans.  I leave them whole and just cut off the tip of the stem end.  Place the beans in a microwave safe dish with a tablespoon or two of water and cover.

Place the butter (or margarine) and the garlic in a small bowl and microwave on low power until the butter is melted.  Remove and stir gently.  Let sit for a few minutes while the green beans are cooking.

Microwave the beans for about 2 minutes, until softened a bit but still crisp.  (Microwaves vary, so start with a lesser time and cook more if needed.)  Drain out the excess water, pour the butter-garlic mixture over the green beans, and serve immediately.  You can add salt and freshly ground pepper if you'd like, but I usually don't.

Serves 6.

Jamie Stolper is the Food Editor of ShalomBoston.com.