Mediterranean-style gratinated green beans are so delicious. A side dish with a rustic yet very elegant look, delicate flavor, and a decidedly appetizing aroma.
This green bean recipe has two aims: to give an extra idea to those who particularly love it and to convince those who don’t like it to cook it this way!
In this recipe, you’ll find all the Mediterranean aromas that blend skillfully.
This vegetarian side dish is very simple to make; you just need to choose some nice green beans, and you’re all set.
A simple and very tasty side dish to prepare.
If you have kids who don’t like vegetables, you can make them even more appealing by adding a couple of tablespoons of Parmesan to the breadcrumbs. I often do this for my grandchildren, and to tell you the truth, they eat them very willingly.
Perfect to serve with meat, fish, eggs, or cheese like mozzarella.
This dish can be cooked either in a traditional oven or an air fryer: both methods are described in the recipe.
Given the beautiful season, I’ve used Piccadilly tomatoes, which are a variety of small-sized cherry tomatoes known for their oval shape and sweet, savory taste.
Great both raw and cooked, especially suitable for sauces and dressings, thanks to their skin which blends well during cooking. The Piccadilly tomato is very versatile and can be used in various culinary preparations.
Let’s enjoy them hot and freshly made when the gratin is crispy, and our dish will be a hit.
If you feel like trying it right away, here is the list of ingredients.
If you wish, you can also add some black olives to the seasoning for an extra flavor boost!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Affordable
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Energy 214.58 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 19.17 (g) of which sugars 5.84 (g)
- Proteins 7.53 (g)
- Fat 13.32 (g) of which saturated 3.52 (g)of which unsaturated 1.60 (g)
- Fibers 4.39 (g)
- Sodium 645.35 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 180 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
Mediterranean-style gratinated green beans
- 18 oz green beans
- 5 oz Piccadilly tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1.4 oz Parmesan cheese
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- salt
Tools
- Baking Dish
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper
- Air Fryers
- Pot
- Colander
Steps
First, let’s clean the green beans by trimming the ends.
(Without using scissors or knives).
We need to snap the ends off by pulling down the tip and any string, which is found only when the green beans are slightly matured.
Young green beans usually don’t have it.
Wash the green beans very well with water and baking soda.
But the most used and well-known cooking method for green beans is boiling.
However, I provide other cooking alternatives so you can choose your preferred one.
Boiled. Put water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Then add the green beans so that they are completely covered by the liquid.
As soon as the water starts to boil again, lower the heat and cook the green beans over low heat for 7/8 minutes until they are tender but still crisp.
Steamed . To steam the green beans, use a steamer or a basket to place inside a pot with water brought to a boil.
Even here, cooking time should not exceed 5/7 minutes, after which you should place them in cold water with ice to prevent them from turning dark.
Microwaved If you want to save time and electricity, you can also prepare green beans in the microwave. Using a steam cooking container, place the legumes covered in the oven, cooking for 5 minutes at maximum power.
Remove the container, stir, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. After letting it rest for 5 minutes, season and serve.
Pressure Cooked
Cook over high heat, and as soon as the pot reaches pressure, move it to a small burner on low flame for 7/8 minutes.
This cooking time is ideal, especially if you later want to stew them or sauté them in a pan.
If you want them more cooked, extend the cooking time by a few minutes.
Carefully to avoid burning yourself, and after turning off the flame, release the steam from the pot by raising the valve.
Remove the lid and drain the green beans from the water.
Drain them and let them cool.
(The cooking time for green beans can vary based on their size, test them).
Transfer the cooled and well-drained green beans to a large bowl.
Add the washed and halved cherry tomatoes, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, pepper to taste, and plenty of oregano.
Mix everything so the vegetables are seasoned evenly, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs and grated cheese.
Line the baking dish with parchment paper.
Drizzle with oil and distribute the green beans with the cherry tomatoes.
If you want, be generous with grated cheese for a nice gratin.
Transfer to a preheated static oven at 375°F for 15-18 minutes, finish with the grill function at maximum power until golden, 2 minutes will suffice.
“Air fryer cooking: cook at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes until an even golden color is achieved.”
If you use an air fryer, you can use small trays lined with paper.
Cook for about 10-12 minutes until an even golden color is achieved.
Halfway through cooking, remove the fryer basket and turn all the vegetables over to the other side.
Enjoy your meal.
Tips
If you’re using an air fryer, here’s a tip! Add the Taggiasca olives only at the end and not together with the other ingredients.
More precisely, add the olives in the last 3-4 minutes of cooking, otherwise, they dry out too much.
Always check both the oven and the fryer as cooking times may vary.
Unmold and serve.
The cooking time for green beans varies greatly depending on their thickness: consider that they need to be reheated in the oven or fryer, so it’s important to boil them al dente.
Gratinated green beans can be stored in the refrigerator, sealed in a glass container, for a couple of days.
They can then be briefly reheated in the microwave or in a pan.
If you liked this recipe, click on many stars, thank you very much.
Join my group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/488624465780860
or on my page: https://www.facebook.com/gustoamoreefantasie
Return to the Home page
