Topic: Recipes needed for runner beans please. . . .

[Debs]

I have never grown runners before as I wouldn't know how to use them.

Does anyone have any delicious tried & tested recipes?

 I'm going to do a Jack & The Beanstalk - throw some in the ground & hope for

the best  ;D  ;D

Debs

[grannyjanny]

Runner bean chutney is lovely. I'm sure someone cleverer than me will do a link for you. I had some last year & it was yummy.

[artichoke]

I love them lightly boiled then cooled, plus  a jar of feta in oil and herbs. Mix some of the feta and oil in with the cooling beans. Delicious salad.

[Gadget]

Love the sound of that recipe Artichoke I think I will have to try that myself. :)

Here is a link which is quite interesting:

http://everything-runnerbean.com/cooking-and-eating.html

 :)

[Poppy Mole]

Runner bean wine is great.

[GRACELAND]

runner beans lightly boiled  , fried bacon   when bacon is cooked   deglase   the pan with the beans   lovely   ;D

[Debs]

Thanks everyone :)

Gadget - great site thankyou

Debs

[valmarg]

We do the blessed Delias sweet piccalli.  It is delicious, it uses up some runner beans. together with cucumbers.

valmarg

[PurpleHeather]

I have been growing them for over 50 years and can honestly say that they are best

Picked small (pick the lot not just enough) those left will get stringy. Picking encourages new growth. So give away rather than waste.

slice at an angle although very  fresh ones will snap or cook whole

steam or boil and eat them straight away with a thingy (thingy)
 of butter.

They can be frozen or used in pickles and there is a curried dish I once tried.

All very nice but they are best cooked and eaten freshly picked.

Depending on the weather and where you grow them. They will continue to produce beans until winter.

Also, the whole beans can be used in stews if they get too large.

Some say in a mild climate the beans will grow into the second year. True but they are still best grown as new each season.

Keep the whole beans which are too big for the seeds for next year.

Forget about pickl;es chutnies and other dishes. Unless you are a poor person who needs to use all the food you grow or starve. Runner Beans are at their best at their youngest state.

ENJOY

[qahtan]

 I'm with Purple Heather,, I steam ours,, but we do have them almost every day when in season,, what you might say, we pig out on them while we can... some how you never get fed up with runner beans, and you really miss them when their season is over. :'( :'( qahtan

[pumkinlover]

I only grow Frenchies! ???

[valmarg]

I'm with quatan "we pig out on them while we can".  It's like asparagus a short season, so make the most while you can.  Neither freeze successfully.  They are just not as good.

We have a few recipes which we love with runners, here's a couple:

Marinated lamb chops.  Marinated in plenty of olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic and rosemary.  Grilled, and served with boiled/steamed new potatoes, slightly crushed and a hugh heap of sliced runners.  Marinade poured over the potatoes and chops.

Chicken bunny stew.  The recipe calls for rabbit, but it is equally as good with chicken thighs.  You brown the chicken/bunny joints, and keep warm.  You add sliced calery sticks, leeks sliced, and carrots sliced,  mix well.  Sprinkle 2tbs plain wholemeal flour (and wholemeal flour does make a difference to the finished dish).  Cook for a minute, and gradually add a pint of chicken stock.  Bring to the boil, stirring continuously.  Return the chicken, and bake until chicken is tender.  Serve with lovely creamy mashed potato and an enormous heap of sliced runner beans.

For french beans I would go with salad nicoise.  New potatoes, steamed and tossed in a vinaigrette sauce.  I'm afraid I'm a philistine, and I/we prefer tinned tuna, mixed in with the potatoes.

A bed of little gem lettuce, the potato tuna mix in the midde.  Covered with hard boiled egg quarters, home grown tomatoes and plenty of anchovy fillets.

Summer. ;D, and roll on. ;D

valmarg

[Morris]

We love Delia's runner bean pickle in our house:

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/preserve/spiced-pickled-runner-beans.html

RBs make nice salad. I adapt depending on what ingredients are available. Slice beans and cook as usual. Toss immediately with home-made vinaigrette (lemon/garlic/olive oil is nice). Mix in whatever else you fancy. Good possibilities are: cubes of raw or cooked yellow summer squash, chopped tomato, feta, crispy bacon, spring onions, new potatoes - and lots of fresh herbs. Leave for flavour to develop and serve at room temperature.

Personally I hate them frozen. And I like them sliced the old-fashioned way, into long thin strips with a bean slicer.

What's this about runner bean season being so short?? Four months?? 

[pumkinlover]

That sounds good.
I will have to try it with my frenchies! :)