Green beans with ham is a dish that reminds me of my childhood and youth. I make an effort to preserve traditional recipes passed down from mothers and grandmothers, which in turn were inherited from their ancestors.
Eating well doesn’t require much time, expensive ingredients, or even advanced cooking skills. Not even liquid nitrogen, despite how it may sound. Moreover, it’s possible to impress your guests with something as simple as a delightful ruse. Deception is our aim here—to deceive the eye, the nose, the palate, and even the wallet. Pure charade, albeit this time for the noble cause of gastronomy and the care of our self-image.
Ingredients
300 grams of green beans
1 medium onion
1 tomato
2 cloves of garlic
Coarse salt, extra virgin olive oil (and if desired, some thin slices of Serrano ham).
Method
Let’s Get Started
The most convenient part of this recipe is that there’s no need to boil the beans separately. We’ll use just one frying pan for everything. Begin by trimming the ends of the green beans and cutting them into pieces that are not too small (around 6 cm), as this will make for a more appealing presentation. Rinse them under running water and drain well.
In the frying pan, add plenty of oil and, when hot, toss in the green beans to fry them briefly. Allow them to colour, but don’t overcook. Once done, remove them and drain on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess oil. Next, take the tomato, cut it in half, and grate it using a coarse grater until it forms a pulp.
Leave a little of the used oil in the pan, then add the minced garlic to sauté. After a short while, add the onion, slicing it into strips rather than the classic cubes. Stir well, and once it’s nicely golden, mix in the grated tomato and salt to taste. Stir thoroughly and let the tomato colour—this won’t take long.
It’s time to add the green beans, a pinch more salt, and stir everything together for a well-mixed dish. Serve it stylishly piled as if haphazardly arranged, and sprinkle some slices of ham on top while still warm to create a dish that will surely catch the eye.
