Courtesy of Elaine Magee

Question: I’m looking for a green bean recipe for the holidays that isn’t too difficult to make but is nothing like the one everyone makes with condensed soup.

Answer: Warning! No creamy soups or crunchy fried onions are in this recipe—only fresh ingredients found in the produce section for this festive side dish. You can put it all together in about 10 minutes too. The green beans are briefly microwaved just to a light green color so they still have a little snap to them. While they are in the microwave, you sauté strips of portabella mushroom with garlic and herbs in a small amount of canola or olive oil. We are keeping the oil to about a teaspoon per serving by adding chicken or vegetable broth for moisture toward the end of cooking. The bright green beans are tossed into the mushroom mixture and strips of roasted red pepper add a festive accent of color and flavor.

6 cups green beans, whole with the stem end snapped off

6 teaspoons canola oil (olive oil can be substituted)

2 large portabella mushrooms (remove stems, cut caps in half, then cut into 1/4-inch slices)

2 teaspoons minced or chopped garlic

2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable broth (wine or water can be substituted)

1 teaspoon parsley flakes (or 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Salt to taste (optional)

1/4 cup thinly sliced roasted red pepper (bottled), drained

Directions

1. Add rinsed green beans to microwaveable covered container and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large, nonstick frying pan, begin heating canola oil over HIGH heat. Add portabella mushroom strips and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and broth and continue to sauté the mushroom mixture for another couple of minutes.
3. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, thyme, black pepper, salt (if desired), roasted red pepper strips, and green beans to the mushroom mixture. Let the mixture rest for a couple of minutes (to blend flavors) and serve!