Transform ordinary green beans into an extraordinary culinary experience with these flavorful Mustardy Haricots Verts. This elegant side dish is surprisingly easy to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights, yet sophisticated enough to impress guests at your next dinner party!
While classic fresh green bean recipes are a summer staple, the increasing availability of haricots verts year-round offers a fantastic opportunity to add a touch of gourmet flair to your menu any time. These slender, delicate French green beans pair perfectly with a zesty mustard vinaigrette and savory Kalamata olives, creating a vibrant and unforgettable vegetable side.
Why These Mustardy Haricots Verts Will Become Your Go-To Side Dish
For many, vegetable preparation often involves simple roasting with olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan, or a quick sauté with garlic and lemon. While delicious, sometimes we crave something a bit more refined without the added complexity. That’s where these Mustardy Haricots Verts truly shine, hitting the perfect balance of gourmet taste and effortless preparation. This recipe is designed to elevate your everyday meals and impress on special occasions.
- Effortless Elegance: Just a few simple, thoughtful additions transform humble green beans into a dish that looks and tastes incredibly sophisticated. It’s the perfect way to add a touch of class to holidays, dinner parties, or simply a weeknight meal when you desire something a little extra.
- Readily Available Ingredients: Haricots verts, also known as French green beans, are now widely accessible in most grocery stores, whether fresh in the produce section or conveniently frozen. This ensures you can enjoy this dish regardless of the season.
- Remarkably Simple Preparation: Don’t let the fancy name fool you; this is a super easy recipe. The process involves quickly cooking and cooling the green beans, then tossing them with a robust mustard vinaigrette brimming with briny Kalamata olives. As some culinary experts might say, “How easy is that?”
- Versatile Serving Temperature: Unlike many side dishes that must be served hot, these Mustardy Haricots Verts are equally delicious at room temperature. This makes them an ideal candidate for picnics, potlucks, and make-ahead meals, freeing up precious oven or stovetop space.
- A Burst of Flavor: The tangy, piquant notes of the whole grain mustard beautifully complement the savory, slightly sweet green beans and the salty, fruity punch of Kalamata olives, creating a harmonious and addictive flavor profile that will delight your palate.
Crafting These Flavorful Mediterranean Green Beans: A Step-by-Step Guide
I first served these elevated green beans, adorned with their delightful olive and mustard dressing, during the Christmas holidays. Initially, I was unsure how my notoriously picky husband would react, as his usual preference leans towards green olives with pimento. To my pleasant surprise, he was an instant convert! This lovely side dish pairs exceptionally well with a wide array of entrees and truly shines as an ideal picnic or potluck fare, thanks to its superb taste at room temperature.
Mastering this recipe is straightforward, but a few key steps will ensure your Mustardy Haricots Verts are perfectly tender-crisp, vibrantly green, and packed with flavor:
- Selecting the Perfect Haricots Verts: For the best results, always aim for the freshest green beans possible. Look for beans that are bright green, firm, and snap easily when bent. Avoid any with blemishes, soft spots, or noticeable bulges, which indicate large seeds and an older bean. Haricots verts are typically thinner than regular green beans and should be slender and taut.
- Leveraging Frozen Haricots Verts: Don’t despair if fresh beans aren’t in season or look past their prime. High-quality frozen, defrosted haricots verts are a fantastic and convenient alternative that will still yield excellent results in this recipe. Ensure they are fully thawed and patted dry before cooking.
- Whipping Up the Simple Vinaigrette: The heart of this dish lies in its incredibly flavorful mustard vinaigrette. In a mixing bowl, combine minced shallots, red wine vinegar for acidity, whole grain mustard for its distinctive texture and sharp flavor, a touch of sugar to balance the tang, and good quality olive oil. Whisk these ingredients together until well emulsified. Finally, stir in the sliced, pitted Kalamata olives; their briny, fruity notes are essential to the Mediterranean character of the dish.
- Achieving Tender-Crisp Perfection: Cook the green beans just until they are tender-crisp. This means they should be cooked through but still retain a slight bite and their vibrant green color. You can achieve this by steaming or boiling them for just a few minutes. Overcooking will result in mushy, dull-colored beans.
- The Essential Ice Bath: As soon as the beans reach their tender-crisp stage, immediately drain them and plunge them into a bowl of ice water. This crucial step, known as blanching and shocking, halts the cooking process, preventing them from turning a drab greenish-gray, and locks in that beautiful bright green hue and crisp texture.
- Thorough Drying is Key: Once the beans are completely cooled from their ice bath, it’s imperative to drain them thoroughly and then pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Any excess water will dilute the delicious vinaigrette, compromising the flavor and texture of your dish.
- Serving Suggestions and Temperature: These Mustardy Haricots Verts are wonderfully versatile. They taste terrific served at room temperature, which is a major advantage for entertaining or meal prep. If you prefer them gently warm, you can briefly warm them in a pan over low heat, being careful not to overcook them.
I particularly love that this isn’t just another ordinary side dish; it’s something truly special and a little different. When you’re navigating the hustle and bustle of a busy holiday season, these Mustardy Haricots Verts offer a refreshingly easy yet elegant option for your menu. Yet, they are equally fantastic for jazzing up a simple weeknight dinner. Keep this delightful recipe on your radar for any occasion!
What’s your favorite inventive way to jazz up a vegetable side dish and make it unforgettable? Share your culinary secrets!
More Delicious Vegetable Side Dishes You’ll Love:
- Garlic Lemon Green Beans Recipe from She Wears Many Hats
- Asian Green Beans
- Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan and Basil from Rachel Cooks
- Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Sesame Ginger Garlic Green Beans from Country Cleaver
- Discover more Vegetable Side Dishes
Mustardy Haricots Verts Recipe
10 minutes
5 minutes
15 minutes
6 servings
Green beans tossed with a mustardy vinaigrette for an easy and flavorful side dish!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup sliced, pitted Kalamata olives
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 16 ounces frozen thin green beans (haricots verts)
Instructions
- Place olives in a serving bowl.
- Whisk together shallots, vinegar, mustard, sugar, and olive oil. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the olives.
- Season with salt and pepper if desired. Set aside.
- Cook beans till tender-crisp, then drain and place in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- When beans are cool, drain thoroughly and add to a serving bowl. Toss and serve.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Southern Living.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 110
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 67mg
Carbohydrates: 8g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 4g
Protein: 2g