Green Beans with Tomatoes and Crispy Breadcrumbs

Green Beans with Tomatoes and Crispy Breadcrumbs
Photo: Frédéric Lagrange
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

Fresh, snappy late-summer beans are a fleeting pleasure on their own. Jazz them up with the sweet acidity of large cherry and cocktail tomatoes and crackly breadcrumbs, and lightning strikes three times. The winning combination is cookbook author Sarah Copeland's go-to side for grilled skirt steak, charred lamb chops, or pan-seared white fish. The layers of colors and crisp and juicy textures effortlessly upgrade any main.

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

  • 12 ounces green beans or yellow wax beans, or a combination, trimmed

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

  • 4 slices rustic bread (5 ounces), crusts removed, torn into large pieces

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 10 ounces cocktail tomatoes or large cherry tomatoes, or a combination, halved

  • 1 ounce Manchego cheese, finely grated (¼ cup)

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain and transfer to a serving platter; lightly drizzle with oil.

  2. Pulse bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form (you should have 2 cups). In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium. Add breadcrumbs and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

  3. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over medium-high. Add tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in breadcrumbs. Top beans with warm tomato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese; serve.

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