green beans with eggs, jalapeño and cilantro
August 12, 2014 § 46 Comments
Young and tender green beans are in the markets right now. Typically we steam them until just soft and simply dress them with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. This has such a lovely combination of textures and flavors with the soft scrambled egg, tender green beans, spicy jalapeño and nutty pecans. I found this recipe skimming through a 2011 Food & Wine magazine. Apparently, this is a Georgian dish called lobio (bean dish). The Georgian word ‘lobio’ means ‘beans’ and there are a number of varieties of lobio dishes. This green lobio dish is typically served cool, but with its buttery scrambled eggs and tender green beans, it’s equally delicious hot. We served it warm and it was wonderful.
I n g r e d i e n t s
- 1 pound green beans, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 5 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup chopped cilantro, plus small sprigs for garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans (or walnuts)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 1 small red chile, seeded and minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dill seeds, ground
In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the green beans until tender, 6 minutes. Drain and let cool. Transfer to a bowl.
In a large skillet, melt the butter in the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the eggs are scrambled, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs to the beans.
Stir in the chopped cilantro, pecans, garlic, jalapeño, red chile and dill seeds. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with cilantro sprigs just before serving.
The green lobio can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours.
COTTAGE GROVE HOUSE 
What a wonderful recipe…lots of green beans in the farmer’s markets…such beautiful photos you have of this classic summer time bean…Thanks for the interesting recipe.
Thank you so much Teresa for both the visit and the lovely comment. I sure enjoy looking around your blog this morning. :)
My kind of dish. I make something like it often, using whatever beans I have on hand, like chopstick beans or even sea beans. I’m looking forward to getting some tender green beans at the farmers market next week and will try it with the chili and herbs you suggested here. Thanks, Seana!
I’m so curious…what are chopstick beans or sea beans? Are they long beans? I love long beans and buy them often at the asian market. The chili and herbs in this green bean recipe really went well with the scrambled egg. We really enjoyed it as a one dish meal, nothing else needed on the table. :) Thank you Ngan. Always a pleasure hearing from you!
Yummy!
:) thank you Arthur.
Wow. What beautiful photos and what a great recipe. The first thing I ever made was Georgian. I believe I may have roots there. I absolutely love that this has jalapenos and red chilis, cilantro and dill seeds.. But the killer for me is always the egg. That elevates this from good to great. I’m totally making this tonight as my side. Love it.
I am so unaware of Georgian food Amanda. I found this recipe and was so taken by the ingredients I just had to make it. Now I’m intrigued about Georgian food. What did you make that first time?
Well it looks amazing. I was in college and it was a chutney of sorts with nuts in it. My friend had Georgian roots. It was such a long time ago. Now you have me wondering. I’ll have to look up some other recipes. But I’m pretty sure we made a chutney and bread.
we are on a huge egg kick in our house. My hubby loves green beans, you just gave me my next dinner idea, thanks!
Interesting. We must be on a egg kick too because every time I turn around the carton is empty and I’m heading to the store for more! Lately I love to slow cook an egg in a skillet with a little olive oil. It’s delicious!
Oh my gosh, Seana…. I’m looking at this gorgeous recipe getting excited by the second!! I think if I left the nuts and cilantro out in just a small portion, and then added them for me and Jess… I could get Mike to eat this! It looks fabulous. You are good. I mean, really really good. LOVE. <3
Thank you Prudy! Your Mike certainly is picky…isn’t he! :) You are such a good mom to make adjustments to his portion. (I would do the same thing, quite frankly) It is always so nice to see your presence here.
Love this I am always looking for different ways to use green beans, they are so plentiful now at the green market. Love this spicy kick and eggs really gorgeous, love the recipe and the photo’s are so beautiful.
I was so happy to find the most beautiful pile of crisp green beans at the market the other day. I had this recipe tucked away so it was a perfect opportunity to give it a try. It’s really delicious Suzanne.
Delicious!
Thank you Mary Frances…
What an interesting recipe Seana, i’ve never seen anything quite like it, but eggs, beans, it must be delicious.
I thought the same thing when I discovered this recipe. Had never seen anything like it. It was delicious. Enough to feel compelled to post it, which isn’t alway the case…right? :) Thank you Sandra…
What a wonderful use for string beans- beautiful photos too. :)
Thank you and I love that you called them string beans. That is what my mom always called them. :)
Sups earlier wasn’t dissimilar, even though mine was kept simpler (dental probs again – can only chew one side). French beans (as we call ’em), pan-fried broccoli with egg fried rice. The latter made with delicious organic long grain. Didn’t even bother with spices. Just seasoning. Although, I am looking out for a warm dressing to serve with something like this. Something sticky and gooey. That can be made separately, then poured/drizzled over. If you have any ideas…
So sorry to hear about your dental problems again! Hoping it is short lived and your are back 100% in no time. We absolutely love fried rice. I can’t for the life of me think of a sticky and gooey dressing to serve with it. I can’t get past the idea of a sweet chili thai sauce, which is sticky and delicious. It’s a wonderful savory sauce. Here’s one version…
http://shesimmers.com/2009/02/how-to-make-thai-sweet-chili-dipping.html
Maybe this will spark an idea for you?
Thanks for that. Here’s a link to an article I liked about egg fried rice: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/jan/19/how-to-cook-perfect-egg-fried-rice
I used to always cook the egg first, then add the rice. Not any more. As for a dressing, my local supermarket is selling one made from mango, lime and chillies. With evo oil and white balsamic that might be the way to go. If I can find canned mango. Not so easy here. Will let you know how it turns out. Oh, and not long after the first corn on the cob of the season – too delicious!
I like the sound of mangoes, lime and chillies for fried rice! And thank you for the article, good read. I always add the beaten egg directly to the rice and cook it in a skillet. I have a Thai friend who taught me to do it this way. She also told me to always use left over refrigerated rice. She wasn’t far off from the article! Nice to hear corn on the cob is in season there! Have you seen any recipes for “Mexican street corn”? It’s great! Here’s one I saw the other day. I need to make this.
http://ourgrowingpaynes.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/mexican-street-corn/comment-page-1/#comment-5691
Sorry to keep sending you links….I wonder if peaches would be good to use if you can’t find canned mangoes for your dressing?
That’s exactly what I’d bought! And I’ve just had the first try out with bean and nut burgers – so, so good. Definitely want to try making it with mango, if I can get those in cans as they’re softer to mash. And I’ll have to try and figure how to purée the fruit without having to run through. Anyway, glad to hear that’s the correct way of cooking egg fried rice. I’m really enjoying it a lot more since I read that article.
Love it! I would rather have it warm. Love the eggs for breakfast. This sounds like a great dish for any meal :).
Thank you Sonal…a very interesting dish. It was wonderful, we really enjoyed.
It looks very yummy, excellent idea to savor green beans, Seana :)
Thank you. It was very a very unique green bean recipe, we really enjoyed it. :)
Lovely!
What a new and interesting recipe for me, Seana. I would have never thought to scramble some eggs with green beans. But then again, if I think about it, I made an egg drop noodle soup with green beans once, so yes, this works! The jalapeno and nuts probably take this over the top in taste!
I thought the same thing when I saw it! I just had to make it, especially when I saw the crisp green pile of fresh green beans at the market. It was a wonderful green bean dish. :)
What a wonderful dish, I have all the ingredients on hand, I’m going to make this as a side dish tonight, it’s absolutely perfect. Thanks!
Hi Cheri! If you made the green beans I hope you enjoyed them. :) Thank you so much for stopping in, always so nice to hear from you.
Damn delicious and comforting friench bean recipe!!!
the photograph is truelly seducing me
Thank you Dedy…
what a great meal :-) Love when veggies get to star.
Thanks Liz! Vegetables are working there way into the starring role around here these days. Less meat for sure. :)
What a great combination of flavours Seana… and it presents so beautifully on your wooden board/bowl!
Hi and thank you Margot! A bit of a different combination for us, but we really enjoyed it. Are you hosting this week? :)
I must get to the market tomorrow. This is absolutely the kind of thing I love. All in one – a complete meal – utilizing seasonal vegetables and packed with flavour. Love this Seana. Onto the chalkboard with it! ;)
My mom makes a very similar Vietnamese dish. We love eating it over steamed rice. Except my brother and I would try to pick out all the egg bits first. :D
What an interesting recipe! Must buy beans ASAP! Thank you for sharing. :)
Beans never last long in this house but next time I get some I will guard them with my life so I can make this fab dish.
This looks amazing! My husband brought some lovely green beans home from the farmers’ market this morning. I think they are destined to find their way into this delicious dish. Thanks for sharing!