How to Cook Pole Beans
Pole beans grow on vines that need to climb either on trellises or poles. Since they grow up, instead of low to the ground like the bush variety of bean, harvesting pole beans is quite simple and not at all backbreaking. Pole beans are easy to grow, and the plants provide an abundance of beans during the summer months. You can also buy pole beans fresh from the grocery store any time of the year. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Large frying pan
- Onions
- Bacon
- Beans
- Dutch oven
- Chicken broth
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Almonds
Instructions
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Basic Pot Beans
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1
Dice one-half pound of bacon and one-half of an onion. Put it all into a frying pan and sauté them until the bacon is thoroughly cooked and the onion is translucent. Drain off any excess bacon fat.
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2
Wash two pounds of beans thoroughly, making sure to remove all traces of debris. Look for any beans that have blemishes and throw those away.
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3
Cut off the tops of the beans at the point of attachment to the plant. Throw the tops away. Cut up the rest of the beans into bite-size pieces. Make sure to remove the strings from all the beans.
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4
Put the beans, bacon, onions and two cups of chicken broth into the Dutch oven. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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5
Bring the contents of the pan to a boil. Turn down the heat and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the beans to simmer for about 10 minutes for a slightly crisp bean. Cook a little longer for softer beans.
Sauteed Beans
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6
Make sure to use small, tender beans for this recipe. Wash one pound of beans thoroughly, making sure to remove all traces of debris. Look for any beans that have blemishes and throw those away.
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7
Trim off the tops of the beans.
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8
Heat up a sauté pan with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Put the pole beans into the pan whole.
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9
Stir the beans around to coat them with the olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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10
Cover the pan with a lid. Turn the heat down to medium low. Allow the beans to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir them frequently. Add sliced, toasted almonds if desired for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When choosing pole beans from the grocery store, test their freshness by snapping one in half. It should snap cleanly and crisply. Do not buy beans that act like rubber when bent.
