French in a Flash
20120904-haricot-verts-tomato-salad-primary.jpg
[Photograph: Kerry Saretsky]
This savory and refreshing salad features simply blanched haricots verts—still crisp and vibrantly green—topped with garlic chips singed in olive oil and smashed last-of-summer tomatoes for a hit of acidity. Bring on the baguette to lap up all the gorgeous vegetable juices.
About the author: Kerry Saretsky is the creator of French Revolution Food, where she reinvents her family's classic French recipes in a fresh, chic, modern way.

About This Recipe

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Special equipment: mini food processor

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 pounds haricots verts, trimmed
  • Salt
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
  • 20 baby plum tomatoes
  • 16 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

Procedures

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Blanch the haricots verts until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Drain, and shock in cold water. Meanwhile, in a mini food processor, add the tomatoes, 4 teaspoons of olive oil, and a good pinch of salt. Pulse until chopped. Set aside.
  2. Once the haricots verts have been drained, add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil to the original pot, and set over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, and just about to go golden around the edges. Immediately add the haricots verts to stop the garlic from burning, season with salt, and toss to warm through. Plate, and top with the chopped tomatoes. Eat hot or at room temperature.