French beans are indeed very versatile and can be used in preparing a number of dishes. It is…
Ever wondered why French beans are called so? I did and I also did try to find out without much success.
These beans are the unripe fruits of any kind of beans, the pods of which are also called string beans. Their botanical name is phaseolus vulgaris. Around four inches in length, they are slightly pointed at both ends. They are green in colour with tiny seeds held within their pods.
They are thought to have originated in South and Central America where their cultivation was started around 7000 years ago. When Christopher Columbus returned from his second voyage to the New World around the year 1493, he brought the French beans to the Mediterranean region. At that time French beans were considered rare and therefore expensive but very soon became one of the most commonly used beans. They were introduced to France in the year 1597 by the Conquistadors.
They are considered very good for health as they are rich in many vital nutrients which are necessary for proper growth and metabolism of the body. They have Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamine, Folate and Panthotheinic Acid. They also contain Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc. Besides these they are also rich in Amino acids, Carbohydrates, Fibers, Water, Sugar, Proteins and Omega-3 Fatty acids.
Since French beans are rich in dietary fibers they help in preventing the effects of cholesterol. They are good for the diabetics as they can help prevent blood sugar levels rising immediately after meals.
Being rich in iron, which is an important part of haemoglobin, these beans help in energizing the body whereas the presence of copper helps in proper synthesis of haemoglobin. The presence of Vitamin C helps in improving the immune system of the body.
French beans are indeed very versatile and can be used in preparing a number of dishes. It is widely used in western cuisines as well as in Indian. They can added to stews, pulaos, biryanis, salads, soups, stir-fries, etc. Only remember that they should not be over cooked for they taste a lot better when they have a slight crunch. The possibilities are numerous. Only remember to snap off the two ends and then cut them as necessary for the particular dish you are adding them to.
Spanish and Portuguese explorers introduced the legume to Europe and Africa, and by the nineteenth century the slim pods became common in France as haricot verts, hence being referred to as “French” beans.
The secret is the slicer blade. To begin, cut the green beans to fit the mouth of your feed tube. Stack the beans horizontally (not sticking straight up) and gently press them through. In less than 5 seconds your job is done. French-cut success!
French-cut is just a fancy term for julienne or thinly sliced. Because of their slender shape, they cook faster than whole beans and offer a unique visual presentation. So what’s the secret? The magazines make it look so stylish and simple…
Try this method and you’ll see that it works. No more struggle. No more canned or frozen beans. No more drooling over glossy magazines. It’s an incredible timesaver that transforms ordinary to extraordinary. This is how to French-cut green beans like a pro! Green bean casserole anyone?
You have to do it one-by-one and after about 10 of them, the novelty wears off. Because you have 50 more to go. You get distracted. You discover your child flushing play-doh (mock poo) down the toilet. You realize that this obsession of yours is a complete WASTE OF TIME and no one in their right mind wants to slice green beans by hand.
The problem is they’re not all the same size. Some green beans are straight, some curvy, and then you get the odd bent one (or two). I’ve never been able to achieve good results by hand. The end result is a big pile of uneven, funky looking beans.
French beans are indeed very versatile and can be used in preparing a number of dishes. It is…
Since French beans are rich in dietary fibers they help in preventing the effects of cholesterol. They are good for the diabetics as they can help prevent blood sugar levels rising immediately after meals.
French beans are indeed very versatile and can be used in preparing a number of dishes. It is widely used in western cuisines as well as in Indian. They can added to stews, pulaos, biryanis, salads, soups, stir-fries, etc. Only remember that they should not be over cooked for they taste a lot better when they have a slight crunch. The possibilities are numerous. Only remember to snap off the two ends and then cut them as necessary for the particular dish you are adding them to.
They are considered very good for health as they are rich in many vital nutrients which are necessary for proper growth and metabolism of the body. They have Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamine, Folate and Panthotheinic Acid. They also contain Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc. Besides these they are also rich in Amino acids, Carbohydrates, Fibers, Water, Sugar, Proteins and Omega-3 Fatty acids.
These beans are the unripe fruits of any kind of beans, the pods of which are also called string beans. Their botanical name is phaseolus vulgaris. Around four inches in length, they are slightly pointed at both ends. They are green in colour with tiny seeds held within their pods.
Chef Tips: French Cut Green Beans
FAQ
What is the difference between French green beans and regular green beans?
What is French cut green beans?
Why do French cut green beans taste different?
What is the difference between Italian cut and French cut green beans?
What are cut green beans?
They begin with whole green beans and are sliced horizontally to produce thin strands of beans. These are different than French green beans (haricots verts), which are the more slender variety of whole green beans. Canned and frozen green beans are usually packaged as Cut Green Beans or French Cut Green Beans.
Are French cut green beans the same as whole green beans?
French cut green beans have a similar flavor to whole green beans. The main different is the texture. Because French cut green beans are sliced so thinly they cook up silky and tender. The slicing also turns the veggie from a tube to a strip, which helps the beans absorb the flavors they’re cooked with (more on that below). Let’s start with speed.
Can You French cut green beans?
If you’d like to get a little fancy, however, try the French cut, aka the julienne. When you French cut your green beans, you’re thinly slicing the entire veggies into strips. The process starts the same way a regular cut begins, by cutting off the stems. But then, you’ll cut them in half lengthwise and slice each half into even skinnier strips.
What are French green beans called?
The French name for what are often called French green beans, “haricots verts”, literally translates as “green beans”. In France you use the name for any bean, though the thinner variety is more popular. In the US, the more common green bean is thicker and longer than what is typically referred to as French beans.