Turkish Green Beans

If you follow my Blog you will know that my husband Don has a Turkish background.........through the years I learned to make some of his favourite childhood foods and this one is his all time favourite.

Whenever I go there for a visit in the summers this dish is made weekly, the green beans there are very abundant at all the markets. I must admit that they are very tasty there, not like here. For some reason they melt in your mouth and have this fresh taste.

My SIL will simmer them for 20 min. and they are done.........but here I simmer and simmer and still they are not like there but the taste is similar..........

They serve this green bean stew with some crusty bread and a side dish of plain white buttered rice...........sometimes ground beef is added and if they are vegetarian the ground beef is omitted.

Turkish Green Beans

I lb. fresh green beans

1 large onion, diced

2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 carrot, shredded

2 large fresh tomatoes, finely chopped or 1 small can of diced tomatoes

1 or 2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1/4 cup Olive oil

1 cup or more Chicken broth OR beef broth OR water

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup chopped parsley

1/4 lb. ground beef (optional)

Trim and clean the fresh beans to 1 or 1 1/2 inch pieces....set aside.

Heat olive oil in pan and saute onions, garlic and carrots till lightly browned and soft.

Add tomato paste and tomatoes and stir for about 2 or 3 minutes....slowly adding the broth.

To this add the green beans and broth OR water.

Cover pan, season and let it simmer for about 45 minutes.

This dish is served at room temperature or slightly warm with some crusty bread. These are not "crunchy" beans if you like them but are soft.

Notes***** Sometimes I saute the ground beef separtely , drain and add to the bean mixture just before it starts to simmer. But this is optional, if you want it to be vegetarian then omit the ground beef.

Last 10 minutes I add chopped parsley.


....................if my husband could he would eat this daily.

This is parsley from my garden pots that 'Alvin' the chipmunk has seemed to have not had lunch with.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!!!

Don't forget to link with

http://beautyandbedlam.com/

and

http://blessedwithgrace.net/

for some other great treats.