Pasta & rice main dishes

Pasta with French bean sauce

⏱ 20 min🍳 10 min👤 3 pp★★☆☆☆

Pasta with a French bean sauce is a very common dish in Puglia: it's tasty and light, perfect for lovers of pasta and vegetables. Ideally, prepare it with the thin green French beans, known in Italy as 'snake' beans, 'asparagus' beans or 'mangetout' beans. Alternatively, you could try other varieties of green bean, but always fresh if at all possible.

Ingredients

Nutritional values 420 kcal / serving

Protein
15g
Carbohydrates
58g
Fat
12g
Fiber
5g

* approximate values per serving

Information
20 minutes Total time
10 minutes Active time
Serves 3 persons
★★☆☆☆ Medium difficulty

Preparation

Prepare and wash the beans. Boil them for two or three minutes in salted water. Then, without draining them, add the linguine. Meanwhile, in a frying pan, sauté a clove of garlic in extra virgin olive oil. Add the tomato passata and season with salt. Continue cooking until the pasta is done. When the linguine and green beans are ready, drain them, add them to the sauce and mix well. Serve warm: if you like, add a little grated Parmesan, or other hard cheese, to taste.

Tips
If you don't want to use tomato passata, you could instead make a sauce with fresh cherry tomatoes. You might also garnish your sauce with some toasted breadcrumbs and a balsamic vinegar glaze, or with a little grated ricotta.
Trivia
Long, green beans are often prepared, in the rest of Italy, as part of a stew with tomatoes, but not with pasta. The combination of pasta with a tomato and bean sauce makes for a quick and healthy dish.

Step by step

Ingredients
Ingredients
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Additional information

Green Bean Pasta with Grated Grana Cheese

One of the tastiest variations of Green Bean Pasta is certainly the one that includes grated Grana cheese. This ingredient gives the dish a creaminess and enveloping flavor that enhances the taste of the green beans and tomato puree. To prepare this version, simply follow the classic recipe and, once the pasta is plated, generously sprinkle with Grana. The result will be a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for those who love intense flavors. Additionally, the combination of green beans and Grana cheese is particularly appreciated, as the fresh green beans provide a crunchy note that contrasts beautifully with the softness of the cheese. Don't forget to serve the pasta hot to fully enjoy this variation!

Green Bean Pasta in Ligurian Style

In Liguria, Green Bean Pasta is often prepared with the addition of potatoes and pesto, creating a dish that perfectly represents the regional culinary tradition. This variation involves boiling the potatoes together with the green beans, which blend with the pasta and pesto, making the dish even richer. To prepare Green Bean Pasta in Ligurian style, start by following the basic recipe, but when adding the green beans, also include diced potatoes. Finally, complete everything with a generous spoonful of Genoese pesto, which will add a touch of freshness and an unmistakable aroma. This preparation is ideal for summer lunches, thanks to the lightness of the ingredients and its fresh, aromatic flavor.

Light Green Bean Pasta without Oil

For those who desire a lighter version of Green Bean Pasta, it is possible to prepare it without oil while still maintaining a delicious flavor. In this light variation, instead of sautéing the garlic in oil, you can simply cook it in the pasta cooking water. This technique allows you to drastically reduce calories without compromising taste. The tomato puree, rich in antioxidants, will help flavor the dish. To make this preparation even lighter, you can opt for whole wheat linguine, which offers a higher fiber content. Serve the Light Green Bean Pasta with a sprinkle of black pepper and a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the fresh ingredients. This dish is perfect for those on a controlled diet who do not want to give up taste.

Benefits of Green Beans in Green Bean Pasta and Approximate Calories

Green beans, the main ingredient in Green Bean Pasta, are known for their nutritional properties. These green legumes are rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C and vitamin K, and also contain minerals such as manganese and potassium. Additionally, green beans are an excellent source of fiber, which promotes digestion and helps maintain a good level of satiety. Regarding calories, a serving of Green Bean Pasta prepared according to the classic recipe contains about 350-400 calories, depending on the amounts of pasta and sauce used. Incorporating green beans into your diet not only enriches the dish with flavor but also provides numerous health benefits, making it an excellent choice for balanced and nutritious meals.

Can Green Bean Pasta be Frozen?

One of the most common questions regarding Green Bean Pasta is whether it can be frozen. The answer is yes, but with some precautions. It is advisable to freeze Green Bean Pasta only if it has been prepared without the tomato sauce, as the puree tends to lose consistency and flavor once thawed. If you wish to freeze the dish, make sure to separate the pasta from the green beans and the sauce. You can store the pasta and green beans in airtight containers, and once thawed, you can reheat them in a pan with a drizzle of oil and add fresh puree. This way, you will have a ready meal to enjoy even on subsequent days, while still maintaining good flavor and texture. Remember to consume the frozen pasta within 1-2 months to ensure the freshness of the ingredients.