French Green Beans in Shallot Dressing

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Impressing with Flavor: French Green Beans with Mustard Dressing

This delightful side dish is bursting with flavor, quick to prepare, and a real crowd-pleaser with its restaurant-style flair. As long as you don't overcook the green beans, you're in for a treat. It pairs beautifully with chicken, steak, or risotto, allowing you to choose the perfect main dish to complement this excellent side.

I once had a friend who asked me for a special anniversary meal he could make for his wife. I recommended this recipe as one of the sides and wrote it out for him. The next day, he excitedly told me that his wife was incredibly impressed with the meal, and the green beans were her favorite part. Since then, they've made this dish a regular addition to many of their meals, and I couldn't be happier about it.

These thin French green beans are technically known as "Haricot vert," derived from the French words "Haricot" meaning "beans" and "vert" meaning "green." Compared to most American varieties, French green beans are longer, thinner, and more tender, offering a complex flavor profile with multiple layers of taste - a rich base flavor with subtle undertones.

Give this recipe a try, and we're confident it will become a favorite at your house too!

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of French Green Beans (Haricot vert)
  • ¼ cup of extra virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon of Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 minced Shallot
  • Salt and Black Pepper

Let's get cooking:

  1. Steam the French green beans in a steamer for 4 to 8 minutes or until they are tender.
  2. While the green beans are steaming, prepare the dressing. Whisk together the olive oil, mustard, vinegar, and minced shallot.
  3. Remove the steamed French green beans from the steamer and place them in a bowl.
  4. Toss the green beans with the prepared dressing. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and it's ready to serve!

Your guests just might exclaim, "Sacre bleu, this is the best Haricot vert dish ever!"

"Wi, monsieur." (Yes, sir.)

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