How to Cook Flat Beans
Meatier, wider and less cylindrical than ordinary green beans, Romano beans are often referred to by the humble descriptor, “flat beans.” In some regions, they're also called Italian beans. Like green beans, crispy fresh flat beans can simply be steamed or microwaved until they're tender. Yet their full-bodied texture and robust flavor make them worthy candidates for stylish side dishes
Raw flat beans. (Image: cheche22/iStock/Getty Images)Swiftly Sauteed
Step 1
Cook the bean pieces in enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of a frying pan. Keep the burner at a medium-high setting and stir the beans frequently for about 5 minutes until they take on a light golden-brown color.
Step 2
Spoon just enough chicken or vegetable broth over the beans to cover the bottom of the pan.
Step 3
Reduce the heat to medium and stir the beans occasionally for the next 4 to 5 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
Richly Roasted
Step 1
Blanch flat beans, cut into 2 inch-long segments, in an uncovered pot of boiling water for approximately 5 minutes or until they are tender.
Step 2
Pour the beans in a colander and run cold water over them until they are cool to the touch. Allow them to drain thoroughly before placing the beans in a separate bowl.
Step 3
Drizzle olive oil over the beans, a spoonful at a time, and toss until the bean segments are coated. Stir in salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste.
Step 4
Spread the beans in a single layer on a nonstick cookie sheet and place in a preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes or until the beans sizzle on the pan and are slightly browned.
Slowly Simmered
Step 1
Cook slices of bacon until crispy in a deep-frying pan for Southern-style simmered green beans. Remove the bacon and all but a couple tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Alternatively, melt butter in the pan for a vegetarian dish.
Step 2
Brown diced aromatic vegetables such as onion, celery and garlic in the fat before adding cut flat beans and several dashes of hot pepper sauce to the pan. Pour enough water in to cover the lower half of the pan's contents.
Step 3
Turn the burner down to low and simmer the beans for half an hour, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. Taste a bean segment and adjust the seasoning, if necessary, with a pinch of salt or additional hot sauce. Continue cooking for another 15 to 20 minutes until the flavors are melded and the flat beans are very soft and pliable. Stir in crumbled bacon or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Things You'll Need
Olive oil
Chicken or vegetable broth
Salt
Black pepper
Bacon
Butter
Onion
Celery
Garlic
Hot pepper sauce
Tip
Season roasted flat beans with red pepper flakes instead of black pepper for a spicier flavor profile.
Warning
More mature flat beans and some heritage varieties have fibrous “strings” that run the length of the bean. These are tough and unpalatable, but can be removed by gently snapping the stem and pulling downward to separate the string from the bean.
