Runner Beans

[twinkletoes]

Does anyone cook them in the microwave or tried to?  How long would you cook them for and how do they come out?
twinkletoes

[twinkletoes]

[Duke Ellington]

I dont like cooking them in the microwave because they come out squeaky!! Maybe I am doing it wrong !

Ps my husband hated the chocolate courgette cake ~ however he lived to tell the tale :P

Duke

[Flighty]

No I boil mine. Cut the ends off, slice them up, boil for a few minutes then serve hot with a nob of butter and a shake of black pepper.
Alternatively boil whole then cut, slice and serve.
I had some of mine today which were delicious.

[Duke Ellington]

I am having some this evening  ;D I steam mine :)

Duke

[Borlotti]

Good to freeze.  Slice and boil for 3/4 mins then strain under cold tap.  Leave to dry and then freeze.

[valmarg]

Really, Borlotti, I gave up on freezing runner beans ages ago.  They were never very good, blanched all sort of soggy.  They weren't much better when I froze them uncooked.

The best preserved runner beans I have ever had were some that my dad salted.  We had them for Christmas Day, and they were delicious, just as if you had picked them that day.  I've tried to follow this method from an old Good Housekeeping booklet, and all I've ended up with is a mouldy mess. ;D ???

I should appreciate your secrets Borlotti, otherwise I shall just have to stick to eating them (ad infinitum/definitely not nauseum) in season. ;D

valmarg

[Borlotti]

Pick them young, slice them and bring to the boil.  Don't boil for too long, then immediately place in colandar and run plenty of cold water over them.  Shake. Don't salt as I salt when I recook them otherwise I may forget and salt them twice.  Then lay out on a baking tray to dry.  They shouldn't be soggy but still firm.  When cold freeze either in bags or plastic containers. I think the trick is to immediately cool them down with the cold water.  I think mine taste OK and have been freezing them this way for a couple of years now.  Raining today so may well pick some more.  Eat plenty fresh and give away but waste not want not so freeze away.

[valmarg]

Thanks Borlotti, I'll give that a go, as we are coming up to glut.

valmarg

[rosebud]

              MICROWAVE!!!!!!!!!!!

[twinkletoes]

Not many thumbs up for microwaving then.  I did try to microwave them and like Duke I found them "squeaky" - and they took forever (but I might have had too many in the bowl ::)?).  Anyway, I do freeze some and usually just slice and freeze them.  I vacuum seal them and have found that the best way to cook is to boil the water and drop the frozen lump into the water, bring back to the boil, cook for a minute or two more then drain and serve.  Tried them blanched but they came out mushy. Probably best of all, cook and eat fresh....... ;D ;D ;D
twinkletoes

[Duke Ellington]

I am going to try stir frying runner beans tonight!! With peppers and onions garlic and soy sauce.
I will let you know how it turns out!

Duke

[twinkletoes]

I reckon that'll work a treat Duke - look forward to hearing the results.
twinkletoes

[Barnowl]

Don't Asian cooks often blanch their veg before stir frying it?

[littlebabybird]

Don't Asian cooks often blanch their veg before stir frying it?

yes

lbb

[Barnowl]

Thanks LBB  :)

[thifasmom]

I am going to try stir frying runner beans tonight!! With peppers and onions garlic and soy sauce.
I will let you know how it turns out!

Duke

I love stir frying runner beans, yummy

[Duke Ellington]

The stir fried beans worked well~~I didn't blanch them first as the beans were sliced smaller than I normally would.  Stir fried the sliced  beans and peppers with sliced onions garlic and chillies. I added some soy sauce and a little water and let them steam for a few mins at the end! It made a nice change to basic runner beans. I did this a side vegetable but I think it would be even better to add the beans to any normal chinese stir fry! or a thai curry!

Duke :)

[STEVEB]

duke..cut up and add some smoked bacon as well works a treat

[Duke Ellington]

I will give that a try SteveB the beans and bacon combo sounds good!

Duke :)

[Yorkshire Lass]

This is good too.

Heat a little oil in pan. Saute chopped onion over medium heat. Add crushed clove of garlic, sliced runner beans and 2 or 3 chopped tomatoes. Season and cover. Cook over low heat for about 30mins or until beans are soft. Yummy!