French Green Beans

Steps

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1. 1
   When selecting French green beans at the store or farmer's market, look for beans with a vibrant green color that snap when bent gently.
   ▶ ≈0:20
2. 2
   Trim both ends of each bean. Remove them individually, or use a paring knife to trim bunches at once.
   ▶ ≈0:33
3. 3
   Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
   ▶ ≈0:45
4. 4
   Add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water. The salt will help the green beans retain their vibrant green color.
   ▶ ≈0:54
5. 5
   Add the trimmed beans to the boiling water. Once the water returns to a boil, cook until the beans are just barely tender with a slight firmness remaining.
   ▶ ≈1:10
6. 6
   Remove the beans from the boiling water and immediately submerge them in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process.
   ▶ ≈1:24
7. 7
   Pat the cooled beans dry. Place them in a freezer bag with a couple of folded paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Squeeze out the air, seal, and refrigerate.
   ▶ ≈1:36
8. 8
   Make the vinaigrette: combine shallots, ginger, red wine vinegar, a blend of grapeseed and olive oils, a dash of honey or sugar, salt, pepper, and optional mustard in a container.
   ▶ ≈2:08
9. 9
   Shake the vinaigrette well until combined. Make a larger batch so you won't need to prepare it every day.
   ▶ ≈2:35