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Blote billetjes in het gras
Blote billetjes in het gras: Dutch white beans and green beans stirred with butter, the 'bare bottoms in the grass'
Dutch grandmothers named this dish 'bare bottoms in the grass' for the pale white beans peeping out between the green ones, and it is a summer weekday supper all over the Netherlands, when runner and French beans are cheap. Green beans and cooked white beans are simmered together, then stirred with butter, a little stock and plenty of pepper, often with boiled potatoes on the side. Many families add bacon or a smoked sausage; this version keeps it vegetarian, so serve it with a fried egg or a vegetarian sausage if you want more. The usual mistake is boiling the green beans until grey: they should stay bright with a slight bite. Chef's tip: a splash of the bean-cooking liquid stirred in with the butter makes a glossy little sauce that clings to everything.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb green beans or runner beanstopped and cut into 3 cm pieces
- ¾ cup vegetable stock
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)chopped
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 1 ⅛ lb green beans or runner beans and ¾ cup vegetable stock in a wide pan, cover and simmer for 8–10 minutes until just tender with a slight bite and still bright green.
10 minStep 2: Add 1 lb cooked white beans (2 tins, drained) and ½ tsp dried summer savory or thyme and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes until the white beans are hot through and most of the stock has reduced.
5 minStep 3: Stir in 1 ⅜ oz butter, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper until the butter melts into a glossy sauce. Scatter with 2 tbsp fresh parsley and serve with boiled potatoes.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 11 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does blote billetjes in het gras take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of vegetable stock?
- Chicken stock, same amount (not vegetarian).
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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