Welcome to Tasty Tidbits, your go-to guide for making the most out of the fresh, local produce that you find at Alabama farmers markets! Brought to you by Live Well Alabama, each edition highlights a delicious fruit or vegetable, providing nutrition facts, simple storage and cooking tips, and new recipe ideas. Get ready to explore fresh flavors, boost your meals with nutritious ingredients, and enjoy the best of what Alabama’s farms have to offer.

Nutrition Nuggets

• Low in calories and sodium.
• Support a healthy immune system, strong bones, and a healthy heart.
• Rich in fiber to support a healthy digestive system. 

How to Store

• Refrigerate in an open container and use within 1 week.
• May be stored in the freezer for 8 to 12 months.

How to Prepare

• Wash and dry.
• Snap or cut off the end tips.
• Leave whole, cut, or snap into desired size.

How to Enjoy

• Great as a side dish boiled, steamed, roasted, sautéed, or in casseroles.
• Toss in a bean salad.
• Add to a stir fry.
• Eat raw as a crunchy snack.

Did You Know? Green beans can be yellow, purple, or even speckled! 

Recipes 

Three Easy Ways to Cook Fresh Green Beans

• Boil—Add beans to boiling water and cover. Cook to desired tenderness, about 3 to 8 minutes. Add herbs and pepper to taste. 
• Steam—Add beans to a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam to desired tenderness, about 3 to 7 minutes. Add herbs and pepper to taste. 
• Sauté—Heat beans in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the desired tenderness is reached, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green beans 
• 1 tablespoon oil 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt 
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper 

Directions

• Preheat heat oven to 425 degrees F. 
• Snap or cut ends off green beans, if desired, and rinse.
• Add beans to a bowl. Drizzle oil, salt, and pepper over the beans and toss to coat.
• Place beans on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Stir the beans several times while roasting.

Honey Mustard Green Beans

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon mustard 
• 3 tablespoons honey 
• 3 tablespoons vinegar 
• 4 cups green beans (fresh, frozen, or canned: drained and rinsed)* 

Directions

• Over medium-low heat, stir together mustard, honey, and vinegar in a medium saucepan or skillet.
• Cook until sauce boils and becomes thick, about 10 minutes.
• Add green beans and stir to coat evenly.
• Cook until beans are heated through.

*Four cups of green beans is about 1.5 pounds of fresh beans, 24 ounces of frozen beans, and two 15-ounce, drained cans of beans.

Learn More

For more Tasty Tidbits, visit www.LiveWellAlabama.com.

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