Name: Green Beans with Pesto
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ½ cup pine nuts; 1 pinch salt (to taste); 1 cup Parmesan cheese; 1 pound green beans (yellow beans or purple beans, or a mix of colors); Freshly ground black pepper

Rectangular plate with green beans topped with pesto. — Photo: Colin Quirt

This makes a great summer side dish for picnics and barbecues. Or to serve with pasta, cut the green beans into bite-sized pieces before sautéing. Then boil some pasta with a handful of small pieces of peeled potatoes. When the pasta is done, toss it with the green beans and pesto and you have an appetizer or main course.

Ingredients

½ cup pine nuts
1 pinch salt, to taste
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pound green beans, yellow beans or purple beans, or a mix of colors
Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Put the basil, garlic, pine nuts, salt and olive oil in a food processor and process briefly, until combined. Add the cheese and pulse until blended. Taste and adjust with more salt or olive oil if needed. Set aside.
In a large skillet, sauté the beans in some olive oil until tender and slightly browned. It might be just 5 minutes for the small haricot verts variety. For the larger green beans, sauté them for about 10–15 minutes and cover the pan for part of that time.
Toss the beans with enough pesto to coat them generously. Grind some black pepper over them just before serving and garnish with leftover sprigs of basil.