This simple dish of Romanian green beans with garlic sauce is one of our favorite, most garlicky side dishes.
A simple and delicious side dish or salad with green beans and Romanian garlic sauce.
These green beans with garlic were one of my grandmother's specialties, one of the dishes I was most looking for every summer. A very simple and cheap recipe, yet the perfect accompaniment for any kind of meat, grilled or fried in the pan, delicious with chicken or pork, although we often ate it with only one thick slice of white bread on the side.
Mmm! I used to love to dip pieces of soft bread in that very garlicky sauce, let the bread get soaked in it, and then eat it. I am telling you, meat was good when we had it, but if there wasn't any, it wasn't really missed either.
But of course, this green beans recipe would be great with Grilled Pork Skewers, Meatballs Without Eggs, Cast Iron Chicken Breasts, or Chicken Schnitzel with Potato Parmesan Crust.
Recipe ingredients
Green beans:
- You can use fresh or frozen ones for this recipe; it doesn't really matter.
Garlic:
- The garlic sauce is the very basic and delicious Romanian mujdei de usturoi, which is basically just water, crushed garlic, and salt.
- I like adding a bit of mustard and maybe a tablespoon of oil to it from time to time, but you don't have to do it.
- Another version of this garlic sauce is this amazing Garlic Sour Cream Dip. If you would like your beans to be creamier, you could make that sauce instead, the end result would look different, but it will be equally delicious.
Tips
- Concerning the time you should fry them after they are cooked, some like to do it for only a few minutes until they are nicely coated in the oil.
- I like to do it for a longer time until the beans get some dark spots here and there. That's the way my grandma used to do it, and I love the taste of the beans cooked that way.
More Romanian side dishes
Recipe
Romanian Green Beans with Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans 450 g, Note 1
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ยฝ cup water 125 ml
- 3 garlic cloves
- fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook green beans: Break the green beans into two or three parts, depending on how long they are. Place them into a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until done to your liking.1 lb green beans/ 450 g
- Drain well and rinse immediately in very cold running water. Drain very well again and pat dry with a kitchen towel if still too wet.
- Fry: Heat the oil in a large skillet. Fry the green beans until they start getting some darker spots here and there. Stir often.3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Make garlic sauce: In the meantime, prepare the garlic sauce. Pour the water into a small bowl. Grate or crush the garlic cloves into the water. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.3 garlic cloves + ยฝ cup water/ 125 ml + fine sea salt and pepper
- Combine: When the beans are done to your liking, add the garlic sauce and mix well.
- Serve Romanian beans: You can serve the beans warm or cold as a side dish for grilled or fried meat, chicken, or fish. Or you could serve them (warm) as a main meal with white bread or polenta.
Susan Renee Hennings says
My young son loved g.beans braised in butter. This is a bit like that. Anything braised in butter is going to superb.
Adina says
That is so true!
sarah says
I wasnt sure if you were supposed to add the sauce to the oil while you're frying or wait until after you are finished cooking so I added it during. It was pretty good !
Agness of Run Agness Run says
So delicious! Can't wait to give it a try, Adina! ๐
Chris Scheuer says
I love learning all your grandmother's recipes. She sounds like an amazing cook and these green beans look wonderful!
allie says
Hi Adina - I loved learning more about your family! And while I didn't make it to your beautiful hometown Sibiu this summer, we did visit Sighiลoara - another stunning, historic Romanian city. This green bean dish looks simple and delicious - I like my green beans with lots of color too. Well done, thanks for sharing your Grandmother's recipe today. XO
Monica says
I love green beans and simply prepared like this with garlic is the best. I know your grandmother would be proud of this.
Kim says
Once again, a nice story and beyond gorgeous photos. I like my beans this way, too, although I tend to add a little acid because that's how I roll. My grandmother always overcooked her beans, too. I prefer the bright green color opposed to the yellowish color. Thank you for sharing another great recipe.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Family recipes are the real treasures. I love garlic in everything and this green beans with garlic look so good and delicious, so I can tell I am going to love this. Using garlic cloves was a wonderful idea. I shall try this recipe soon.
Kathy@beyond the chicken coop says
There's nothing better than recipes passed down from generation to generation. This recipe looks like it brings out the best in green beans! Wonderful and simple. ๐
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I had some garlic roasted green beans today too. Have never thought of using cloves though...must give your recipe a try next time.