• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Devil Wears Salad
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Pairings
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Salads
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Ingredient Pairings
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Pairings

    What Goes Well with Green Beans?

    Published: Jul 23, 2022 by The Devil Wears Salad

     

    Grainy, nutty and dense? Not these beans! Green beans are long and crisp and these pairing ideas will get you inspired.

    Lst of ingredients that goes well with green beans this recipe
    Jump to:
    • What are Green Beans?
    • What Do Green Beans Taste Like?
    • What Goes Well with Green Beans? 
    • How to Use Green Beans in Salads and Side Dishes?
    • Salads and Side Dishes with Green Beans 
    • Frequently Asked Questions

    What are Green Beans?

    Green beans, also known as string beans, French beans, and snap beans, are cultivars of the common bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) and belong to the same legume family as black beans and kidney beans. 

    They are harvested before the bean seeds inside have fully matured, so we consume the bean in its entirety, rather than just the matured bean itself.

    The common green bean is, well, as the name suggests, green and long. They get the term string beans as there is a stringy piece of fibre on the back of the bean which is commonly removed before food preparation.

    Many newer strains of green beans don’t actually have a string anymore, and the only preparation required is snapping off the ends.

    Green beans are in season in summer and autumn but are usually available all year round. They’re easy to prepare and quick to cook—all good reasons why they’ve become a common ingredient in dishes. 

    We eat so much of it, in fact, that in 2020, the world production of green beans was 23 million tonnes. That’s a lot of green beans!

    Despite the name, there are yellow and purple green beans too! These 2 other varieties have a similar structure, texture, and taste to regular green beans. 

    The only difference is that wax (yellow) beans, as used in our king oyster mushroom salad recipe, have no chlorophyll. Green beans get their colour from chlorophyll, while yellow beans are just beans that do not have this pigment. 

    Purple beans (Royal Burgundy beans) are green beans in disguise! They have purple-hued skin but, when cooked, turn green. You wouldn’t be able to tell they were purple to begin with! 

    Check out the change of colour in this purple beans salad recipe. 

    All 3 variants provide the same nutrients and can be cooked interchangeably. Despite their differences in appearance, they have a similar flavour.

    green beans on a brown speckled plate

    What Do Green Beans Taste Like?

    Flavour: Green beans taste well, green! Ha! In better words, they’re fresh with grassy notes and have a sweet finish.

    Texture: Fresh green beans should generally be firm and crisp and should make an audible cracking sound when broken. 

    The goal when preparing green beans is never to overdo it when cooking—cook until they’re just tender on the inside but still have a snappy, crunchy bite. Overcooking them will also cause them to lose their stunning bright green colour.

    What Goes Well with Green Beans? 

    Fruit and Vegetables
    Capsicum, carrot, celery, fava beans, fennel, garlic, ginger, lemon, lentil, mushroom, onion, potato, pumpkin, radish, shallot, tomato.

    Herbs and Nuts
    Almond, basil, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, pecan, tarragon.

    Protein and Dairy
    Bacon, beef, buffalo mozzarella, butter, chicken, fish, parmesan, pork, prawn, turkey.

    Other Ingredients
    Balsamic vinegar, curry, soy sauce.

    How to Use Green Beans in Salads and Side Dishes?

    Green beans are versatile a fruit, botanically speaking, but we eat them like a vegetable, and they are sold fresh, canned and frozen. They can be eaten raw or steamed, boiled, stir-fried, baked, grilled or roasted. You can see why there are so many green bean recipes out there!

    Green beans often provide freshness and crunchy texture to salads. They are usually eaten raw or quickly blanched like in this roast chicken potato salad. 

    It’s always best to use fresh green beans for salads, not canned or frozen ones. Also, don’t overdo the cooking; otherwise, they will lose their crunchy texture and vibrant green colour.

    Green beans are commonly cooked in side dishes such as soups, stir-fries or simply blanched and topped with flavourful toppings. 

    Green beans are particularly popular in the northern US as a side dish, particularly at Thanksgiving. 

    You’ll find green bean casseroles, roasted green beans, blistered green beans, grilled green beans, glazed green beans, fried green beans, garlic green beans…goodness; we sound a lot like Bubba and his love for shrimp on Forrest Gump! 

    But you get the gist; there are many ways to prepare fresh green beans for a healthy and delicious side dish.

    Salads and Side Dishes with Green Beans 

    Lemongrass Chilli Green Beans Stir Fry

    Spicy, pungent and full of flavour, this delicious lemongrass chilli green beans stir fry is totally worth sharing with everyone.

    Adding a teaspoon of bun bo hue sate on top of Lemongrass Chilli Green Beans Stir Fry

    Green Bean, Truffle Butter Breadcrumbs and Quail Egg Salad

    Add a touch of gourmet to an otherwise easy recipe. Your guests will be so impressed with the delectable truffle tones in this Quail Egg Salad.

    Green Bean, Truffle Butter Breadcrumbs and Quail Egg Salad

    Salad Niçoise (French Salad Recipe with Tuna)

    Salad Nicoise is a quintessential French salad recipe that showcases everything you would want in a salad. Combining canned tuna, fresh tomatoes, green beans, eggs, potatoes and olives the flavours are delicious and satisfying. Big enough to be a meal but easily shared between friends.

    Salad Niçoise (French Salad Recipe with Tuna)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to buy green beans?

    Fresh green beans usually come prepackaged in plastic bags or loose. When sold loose, this gives you a chance to select the best quality beans. The best ones are bright green, firm when bent gently and feel smooth.  Avoid beans that have blemishes, wrinkles or dry divots.

    Green beans also come frozen or canned. Frozen green beans are good for stir-fries, soups and quite a number of other dishes, as long as they are cooked and there’s less importance placed on the colour of the green beans.

    Canned green beans are very convenient but the texture is soft and wilted and comes murky green. Although they are not suitable for most salads, canned green beans are a good choice if obtaining fresh green beans is a no-go.

    How to store green beans?

    The best way to store fresh green beans and retain their freshness is in the fridge. Wrap them tightly in the plastic freezer bag and store green beans in the fridge for up to a week. This will help retain their moisture, vibrant green colour and healthy nutrients.

    How long to boil green beans?

    To simply blanch fresh green beans, place washed and trimmed green beans in boiling water, then on medium heat, boil for 3-5 minutes. Boiled green beans are best with some bite and have retained their bright green colour. Adding a little salt to the water helps with this process.

    More Ingredients Pairing Ideas:

    • Image of almonds spilling out from a bowl onto a wooden tray with the text overlay "pairings with almonds"
      What Goes Well with Almond?
    • Image of fig wedges on a pink plate with the text overlay "pairings with figs"
      What Goes Well with Figs?
    • Image of colourful capsicums with the text overlay "pairings with capsicum"
      What Goes Well with Capsicum?
    • Image of purple kale with the text overlay "pairings with kale"
      What Goes Well with Kale?

    Don’t want to miss out on a recipe? Feed your FOMO and we’ll deliver it into your inbox!

    Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates!


    Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

    « Chinese Cabbage Salad with Tamarind Nam Jim
    Red Snapper Ceviche with Pomelo »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad - Oi Muchim (오이무침)
      Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
    • Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze on a brown plate with black cutlery served with noodles
      Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze
    • Air Fryer Parsnip Fries with Red Pepper Mayo on dotted grey and white napery
      Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
    • Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad] served with naan bread and veg pulao
      Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad]
    • Miso Mayo Dressing
      Miso Mayo Dressing
    • Yuzu Dressing
      Yuzu Dressing

    Spring Salad Recipes

    • crunchy noodle salad with wombok in a round grey bowl with serving spoon on the right
      Crunchy Noodle Salad with Cabbage
    • fennel courgette salad on a white plate in the middle with a smaller black plate filled with salad on the top left corner
      Courgette Salad with Fennel and Citrus
    • Grilled Little Gem Salad with Tahini Ranch Dressing served on a white plate over grey napery
      Little Gem Salad with Vegan Ranch Dressing
    • White Asparagus Salad Recipe on a grey plate with blue napkins and a bunch of parsley in the background
      White Asparagus Salad Recipe
    The Devil Wears Salad | Salad Gazette

    Fall Salad Recipes

    • Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Salad surrounded by fresh feijoas and fall leaves
      Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Salad
    • 2 serves of Baked Tempeh Salad on a grey plates
      Baked Tempeh Salad
    • brown mushrooms marinated in parsley, shallots, garlic, chilli flakes and vinegar served in a bowl with spoon on the side
      Quick Pickled Mushrooms Recipe
    • a bowl of freekeh grain salad with roasted beetroot and spiced sumac dressing drizzled on the side. Using gold fork and spoon to serve.
      Freekeh Grain Salad with Preserved Lemons
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad - Oi Muchim (오이무침)
      Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
    • Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze on a brown plate with black cutlery served with noodles
      Roasted Asian Eggplant with Gochujang Glaze
    • Air Fryer Parsnip Fries with Red Pepper Mayo on dotted grey and white napery
      Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
    • Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad] served with naan bread and veg pulao
      Kachumber Salad [Authentic Indian Salad]
    • Miso Mayo Dressing
      Miso Mayo Dressing
    • Yuzu Dressing
      Yuzu Dressing

    Spring Salad Recipes

    • Watercress Salad with Apple and Pear in a grey bowl with cheese and bread on the side
      Watercress Salad with Apple and Pear
    • Creamy Cucumber Avocado Salad on a grey plate with black cutlery and grey napkin
      Creamy Cucumber Avocado Salad
    • Spicy Asian Chicken Salad in a grey bubble plate
      Spicy Asian Chicken Salad
    • hand holding spoon scooping chickpea salad from a beige plate with a small bowl of salad, lemons and feta around the plate.
      Chickpea Salad with Feta
    The Devil Wears Salad | Salad Gazette

    Fall Salad Recipes

    • soba noodles, pearl mushrooms, edamame, spring onions, cilantro and sesame seeds served in a grey bowl with fork on side
      Pearl Oyster Mushroom Noodle Salad Recipe
    • pear arugula salad on large grey plate next to a bowl of candied walnuts and arugula
      Pear Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts
    • a plate of Waldorf salad with gold fork and spoon serving, a smaller bowl of salad and two bread rolls at the top of the plate.
      The Best Waldorf Salad Recipe
    • Vegan Couscous Salad with Blistered Tomatoes on a blue plate served with fresh basil and lemon on the side
      Vegan Couscous Salad with Blistered Tomatoes

    Footer

    The Devil Wears Salad Favicon

    About Us
    Accessibility Statement
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
    Work With Us

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2022 The Devil Wears Salad