Nana's Yellow (Wax) String Beans

Submitted by Lorac

"My Polish grandmother never used recipes. This so simple dish was the most difficult to duplicate because of it's simplicity. There are versions of this in Polish cookbooks using bread crumbs but they lacked the slightly sweet, butter baked flavor of cracker crumbs that accent the mild taste of the yellow beans. I haven't posted this recipe before because it sounds "too simple" but it's one of my most favorite!"

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 lbs fresh yellow wax beans
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1⁄4 cup crushed Ritz crackers or 1/4 cup townhouse cracker (about 6 crackers)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

directions

1. Cook beans in salted boiling water until soft (not crispy) tender and drain.
2. Add butter and mix until butter melts.
3. Add cracker crumbs, salt and pepper, stir to combine and serve.

Reviews

[Michelle S.]

Wonderful! I added one step that my Polish Godmother did....in the butter she sauteed a small diced onion until very tender, then added the wax beans back in and sauteed then both together for about 10-15 minutes longer before adding the cracker crumbs. The flavor really brought back memories. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.

 

[jeangaylerogers]

These beans are wonderful. My polish grandmother did them in much the same way. The only difference being she would lightly brown the cracker crumbs in a hot frying pan mixing constantly so as not to burn them. She would then mix into the hot buttered beans. The cracker crumbs get less soggy and add that extra bit of flavor. So Good. This cracker crumb recipe is also delicious on cauliflower, green beans, zucchini and broccoli. Oh so good and easy.

 

[healings]

I had TownHouse Buttery Garlic crackers that really made the fresh off the vine wax beans taste great! Thank you.

 

[Sonata]

We really enjoyed this recipe. I mixed green and yellow beans and cut back the butter a little. I took another reviewer's suggestion about adding diced onion, except I used shallots instead. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mary winecoff]

excellent! Quick, easy and my kids ate every bean. I planted yellow wax beans this year as an experiement and my children were really turned off by the name (the wax part). This was a great recipe to introduce them to the real taste. Thank you!