Simple Romanian green beans with garlic sauce, this 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 the 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 these Grilled Pork Skewers, with the Cast Iron Chicken Breasts, or with these Chicken Schnitzel with Potato Parmesan Crust.
What do you need?
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 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:
Romanian Green Beans with Garlic
Ingredients
- 450 g/ 1 lb green beans
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 100 ml/ 3.4 fl.oz /scant ½ cup water
- 3 garlic cloves
- fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- 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.
- Drain well and rinse immediately in very cold running water. Drain very well again and pat dry with kitchen towel if still too wet.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Fry the green beans until they start getting some darker spots here and there. Stir often.
- 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.
- When the beans are done to your liking, add the garlic sauce and mix well.
- 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.
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.
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. 🙂
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.
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.
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.
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 Sighişoara - 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
Chris Scheuer says
I love learning all your grandmother's recipes. She sounds like an amazing cook and these green beans look wonderful!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
So delicious! Can't wait to give it a try, Adina! 🙂