Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Bread Crumbs (Fagiolini all’aglio e mollica croccante)
This simple yet flavorful side dish is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. The crispiness of the bread crumbs combined with the delicate garlic aroma creates a delightful contrast to the tender green beans. A great way to elevate the humble green bean, this recipe is quick, easy, and incredibly tasty.
Category: Side Dish
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Green Beans (Fagiolini) | 600g |
| Garlic (Aglio) | 2 cloves |
| Stale Bread (Pane raffermo) | 60g |
| Fresh Parsley (Prezzemolo) | 1 tablespoon |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olio extravergine d’oliva) | 5 tablespoons |
| Salt (Sale fino) | to taste |
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Green Beans:
Start by trimming the ends of the green beans and giving them a good wash. Once cleaned, add a pinch of salt to the beans and sauté them for a few minutes in a hot pan, allowing them to dry from any residual cooking water. -
Prepare the Bread Crumbs:
Take the stale bread and break it into small pieces. For a quicker and more even result, you can use a food processor to break the bread into fine crumbs. -
Sauté the Garlic and Bread Crumbs:
In a separate pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add one clove of garlic, cut in half or thinly sliced, and allow it to infuse the oil with its flavor. Once the garlic becomes fragrant, add the bread crumbs and toast them, stirring frequently until they are golden and crispy. This should take about 5-7 minutes. -
Combine the Ingredients:
Once the green beans are tender and the bread crumbs are golden, combine both in the same pan. Give them a quick toss to mix the ingredients well. -
Finish and Serve:
Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a burst of color and fresh flavor. Season with salt to taste and remove from heat. Serve the garlic green beans with crispy bread crumbs while they’re still warm for the best flavor and texture.
This dish pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, roast chicken, or even as part of a larger Mediterranean-inspired feast. The combination of garlic, olive oil, and crispy breadcrumbs takes the green beans to a whole new level of flavor.
