String Beans with Garlic - Very Easy & Nice with Salmon

This easy side was a very nice accompaniment to a grilled salmon dish I made this evening. The beans end up nice and crisp. It seems like the dish could easily be changed by adding any of a variety of spices. The recipe is an Ina Garten recipe from the Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/string-beans-with-garlic-recipe.html).

Ingredients

1 & 1/2 pounds French string beans with both ends removed
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon good olive oil
2 to 3 garlic cloves, sliced
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Blanch the string beans in a large pot of boiling salted water for 1 & 1/2 minutes. Drain immediately and immerse in a large bowl of ice water to stop cooking. When they are cool, drain and set aside.

Heat the butter and olive oil in a very large sauté pan over medium heat and cook the garlic for 1 to 2 minutes, tossing occasionally until lightly browned. Add the string beans, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss together. Reheat the string beans and serve.

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