Italian Green Beans with Garlic-Parmesan Breadcrumbs

Prep: 7 mins

Cook: 13 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 4 Servings

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The easiest way to jazz up vegetables? Add cheese, of course. But it’s not just salty Parmesan that bolsters this simple green bean side dish. Plenty of garlic, toasted breadcrumbs, and a healthy splash of balsamic all do their part to create a platter that’s anything but boring. It’s a side that’s well-suited to just about anything you’re serving for dinner, and it’s about as fast as you can get. Plus, it feels fancy.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans
2 cloves garlic
1 ounce Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup firmly packed freshly grated or 1/3 cup store-bought grated)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup fresh or panko bread crumbs
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Trim the stem end from 1 pound fresh green beans. Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves. Finely grate 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 packed cup) into a medium bowl.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1/2 cup fresh or panko bread crumbs and sauté until the crumbs are golden-brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of Parmesan and use a fork to combine. Wipe out the skillet.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the green beans and cook, tossing with tongs frequently, until the beans are bright, glossy, and browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Carefully pour 1/3 cup water into the pan and immediately cover. Cook, covered, until the beans are bright green and crisp-tender and water has almost completely evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes.
Uncover and remove from the heat. Drizzle 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar over the beans, and toss to combine. Sprinkle half of the bread crumb mixture over the beans and gently toss to combine. Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and garnish with the remaining bread crumb mixture.