Buca di Beppo Green Beans

Note: Using fresh beans and keeping them crisp during the prep are critical for this simple recipe to work.

1 pound fresh green beans
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 medium lemons (juice)
Salt, to taste

Prepare the green beans by clipping off the stem end.

Melt the butter in a saut� pan on low heat. Squeeze the juice out of two medium-size lemons. Strain the pulp and the seeds out of the lemon juice. When butter is melted, carefully add the lemon juice to the pan. Raise the temperature to medium and reduce until the lemon juice and butter become a sauce. Do not brown the butter.

Place the clipped, fresh green beans in boiling water for two to three minutes. Do not overcook. The green beans should remain crisp. Strain the green beans and add to the sauce in the saut� pan. Toss the green beans in the sauce and season with salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Servings: 6

Source: Minneapolis St. Paul magazine - From Buca di Beppo