Italian Green Beans
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Italian Green Beans is a simple side dish made with crisp green beans, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.
This is a quick and easy recipe that I make often as a quick dinner side dish. It’s also a great side dish for parties because it can be made ahead of time and is served cold. That means you can prep everything ahead of time and throw it all together right before you sit down to eat. One less thing to put in the oven!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh green beans – We highly recommend fresh green beans because you’ll get the best flavor and texture from them. If you need to you can substitute with frozen green beans. We do not recommend using canned green beans for this recipe.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – You should use sun-dried tomatoes that are packed in oil. These will be tender and more flavorful. You can use sun-dried tomato halves straight out of the jar or chop them up a little if you prefer. You can also use sun-dried tomatoes that have already been cut into strips.
- Pine nuts – These mild nuts add a little crunch to the bean salad.
- Parmesan cheese – Fresh Parmesan is the key. Buy a block of it and grate it or shred it over the beans just before serving.
- Olive oil – A good quality olive oil will add flavor to your vinaigrette.
- Red wine vinegar – The tangy vinegar balances out the slight sweetness from the sundried tomatoes.
- Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice adds a bright flavor to the dressing.
- Seasonings – Salt and dried Italian seasoning is all you need.
If you love this Italian dish don’t miss out on another classic, Panzanella!
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Prepare beans. Prepare green beans by snapping off ends and cutting to desired length.
- Boil. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your green beans and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until they are softened but still have a slight crunch.
- Make dressing. While green beans cook combine all ingredients for your vinaigrette and whisk together.
- Drain and cool. Drain cooked green beans and run cool water over them to stop the cooking process.
- Toss. Once green beans are completely cooled dry off and add to a large bowl with pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, and vinaigrette. Toss to coat then top with Parmesan cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.
Get Creative! The best thing about this Italian Green Bean Salad, besides the fact that it’s delicious, is that you really can’t get it wrong. If you like your green beans a little softer cook them longer, if you want more vinaigrette go for it…if you don’t want to make vinaigrette just use your favorite store brand. More sun dried tomatoes, less pine nuts, more cheese…I’ve even added prosciutto! Make this salad your own and it will become your best cold side dish for holidays and family dinners!
Variations of Italian Green Beans
While this Italian green beans recipe is delicious on its own, there are several variations you can try to suit your taste preferences:
- Spicy Green Beans: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chopped chili for a spicy kick.
- Herbed Green Beans: Incorporate fresh herbs like basil or parsley for a fragrant twist.
- Nutty Green Beans: Substitute toasted almonds for a different texture and flavor.
Tips for Perfect Italian Green Beans
Achieving the perfect Italian green beans is simple but here are a few helpful tips:
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Fresh green beans will give you the best flavor and texture.
- Don’t Overcook: Green beans should be tender yet crisp, so avoid overcooking to maintain their vibrant color and crunch.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dish before serving and adjust the seasoning to your liking, considering both saltiness and acidity.
- Use High-Quality Olive Oil: Opt for extra virgin olive oil for a more robust and authentic flavor profile.
Can You Make Italian Green Bean Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes! That is one of the reasons I love this salad so much. You can cook your green beans the day before your party and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Make the vinaigrette and store it in a separate sealed container in the refrigerator.
Measure out the sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese as well and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator.
Right before you are ready to serve, toss the green beans, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese together. Shake the vinaigrette well and pour it over everything. Toss and serve.
Note: Don’t add the vinaigrette until you are ready to serve the salad. The acid in the vinaigrette will discolor the green beans after an hour or two.
Looking for More Easy Side Dishes?
- Winter Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
- Mixed Green Salad: A Simple and Healthy Meal Choice
- Easy Cucumber and Tomatoes Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad {Salada de Grao de Bico}
- Easy Cowboy Caviar
- More Side Dish Recipes…
Italian Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound Fresh green beans
- 2 tablespoons Salt
- 8.5 ounces Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
- 3 tablespoons Pine nuts
- 1 ounce Parmesan cheese
Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- ¼ cup Red wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare green beans by snapping off ends and cutting to desired length.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water.
- Add your green beans to the boiling water and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until they are softened but still have a slight crunch.
- While green beans cook combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning, and whisk together.
- Drain cooked green beans and run cool water over them to stop the cooking process.
- Once green beans are completely cooled dry them off and add to a large bowl with pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes (remove from the oil), and vinaigrette. Toss to coat then top with Parmesan cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Perfect for Christmas dinner. Thanks for sharing.
Could you use frozen green beans please?
Yes! Steam them according to package instructions and then follow the rest of the recipe.
Great recipe! Thank you!