Yield: 4 Servings

Jacques Pepin

September 2016: This is an excellent green bean preparation: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything.

• 4cups water
• 1lb very small, firm green beans, cleaned
• 3TBS butter
• 3TBS peeled and chopped shallots
• ¼tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1tsp lemon juice

Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and plunge into ice water.

At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and sauté for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.

Add the beans, salt and pepper, and sauté briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve.