Making Mealtime Meaningful: Discover how we're giving back with the 12T Cares program →

Charred Salsa Green Beans

The new and exciting way to get some flavor on those green beans!

hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
CLICK ANY LINK BELOW TO JOIN OUR CAUSE!

A summer green bean recipe to knock your socks off. Who says boiling is the only way to cook our beans? This recipe has you making fresh salsa, then charring the green beans with the charred salsa. I love green beans and I’m always looking for more ways to eat them. Tomatoes and green beans pair really well together, so I thought why not mimic the char on the green beans to a freshly charred salsa? First time making salsa? This is a great way to get familiar with the four main salsa ingredients. Tomato, jalapeno, onion, and lime juice. Let’s get into it.

Salsa can be whatever you have on hand, as long as there’s a spicy element, juicy element, flavor enhancer, and citrus. We have raw salsa called pico de gallo or salsa fresca, we have boiled salsa like salsa rojo or salsa verde, then we have roasted salsa (my personal favorite) which just gets more flavor development from browning. Making salsa has never been easier. This recipe is also a really good one to substitute for your favorite store-bought salsa too. Char the beans and cool it off with some good salsa. Think of this as a side dish you can cleverly serve alongside taco night. A vegetarian’s delight.

Like any green vegetable, green beans benefit from citrus. It helps cool the beans down, brightens up all the flavors in the dish, and helps our body absorb the fiber better. Green beans go dark green when they are cooked too long. It’s kind of like overcooked pasta, soggy and inedible. It’s important to toss those beans when charring them to prevent dark green colors. Pan searing them this way develops char while steaming the beans on top. No water is necessary, I guarantee you will be cooking green beans this way from now on.

Serves 6

15m prep time

15m cook time

Allergens: Citrus

hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
CLICK ANY LINK BELOW TO JOIN OUR CAUSE!
Ingredients:
  • 2 tomatoes, halved
  • 1 jalapeno, halved
  • 1/4 onion, sliced
  • 1 whole garlic clove, peeled
  • 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. green beans, washed and trimmed
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro sprigs
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Directions:
  1. In a cast iron pan, over high heat, add tomatoes cut side down, along with jalapeno, sliced onions and garlic clove. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes until vegetables start to char.
  2. Remove charred vegetables to bowl and squeeze over lime juice. Blend with an immersion blender or blender. (hand chop for chunky salsa)
  3. Add oil and green beans to hot cast iron and spread evenly. Over high heat, let the green beans cook, untouched, for 5 - 6 minutes, or until char. Toss and repeat step.
  4. Remove green beans from heat, season with salt and pepper, then spoon over salsa. Garnish with cilantro.
  5. Enjoy!