Try This Simple Steamed Green Beans Recipe (2024)

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can still steam vegetables. Here's a couple of easy hacks:

• Use a metal or other heat-proof colander or strainer. Add an inch of water to a large pan and add the colander (make sure it will fit with the lid on top), treating it as a steamer.
• Poke holes in a disposable metal pie pan. Add an inch of water to a pan large enough to fit the pie pan. Flip the pan upside down and place on top of the water. Place the green beans on top and secure the lid.
• Alternatively, you can steam green beans in the microwave.

If you're looking for a way to jazz up the flavor for this simple side, try playing around with different flavors of butter that you use when you steam the green beans. Excess flavored butter can be tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge for at least a week.

• Beurre Maître d'Hôtel:Combine 1/2 cup butter with 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. Add fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Basil Butter:Use about 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves for every 1/2 cup butter. Add a clove of minced garlic, if you like, and/or a grating or two of lemon zest as well as fine sea salt to taste.
• Cilantro Lime Butter:For each 1/2 cup of butter, use 2 or 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves, and 2 teaspoons lime zest. Add a bit of green chile sauce (or green Tabasco) if you're so inclined.
• Garlic Butter:Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1 clove minced garlic, fine sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You can also add minced parsley for a bit of color if you like.​
• Lemon-y Butter:Combine 1/2 cup butter with 1 teaspoon freshlemon juice and 1 tablespoon freshly gratedlemon zest (just the yellow part of the peel, being sure to avoid the bitter white pith beneath when you grate).

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