Simple side dish: green beans with garlic

This is so simple and so good, especially when the locally grown green beans are in season. All you need are some nice-looking fresh green beans, lots of sliced garlic, olive oil, butter, salt and pepper.

Prep the green beans by rinsing them and cutting off the stem end. I like to keep the beans their original length, but you can certainly cut them into smaller pieces. You also need to slice the garlic. Whenever I prep garlic this way, I am reminded of the scene in Goodfella's where Paul Sorvino is in the prison kitchen making paper thin slices of garlic using a razor blade. You don't need to slice the garlic so thinly for this dish unless you really want to recreate that scene.

Start by putting a large pot of water on high heat to boil. When the water comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and the green beans. The green beans will take only a few minutes depending on how soft you like them. In the mean time, add the sliced garlic and equal amounts of butter and extra virgin olive oil to a cold pan.

Turn the heat to medium and let the garlic cook for a few minutes. Starting in a cold pan will allow the garlic to flavor the oil and butter as it heats up. You want the garlic to cook softly, even to lightly brown, but be careful not to let it burn.

If the garlic is ready before the beans, take the pan off the heat. When the beans are ready, drain them and toss them directly into the frying pan. Season with kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and toss all together to coat every green bean.

Green beans and garlic are a perfect complement to each other. Everyone loves these beans. I could make them for every meal.