Smothered Snap Beans
They’re reliant, easy, delicious, and comforting. With their subtle smoky flavor, they pair well with almost any main dish by bringing out the deeper notes of the other dish. Some people will criticize them as being mushy, but has anyone ever judged mashed potatoes that way?
Smothered snap beans will be found on almost every Cajun table. Most of them will have potatoes mixed in as well, but I grew up without the potatoes in there so that’s the way I make them. The only tricky part is due to the long cooking time and absence of added water, the bottom of the beans might burn. My dad always jokes that it’s not smothered snap beans until the bottom burns. Make sure you use a heavy-bottom pot to help reduce the burning.
I’ve made these beans since college and never had a recipe for it. Once you make it once or twice, go ahead and wing it. It’s so easy that it’s not worth the time finding the recipe to follow.
Smothered Snap Beans Ingredients
2 lbs of frozen or fresh snap beans
3 Tbl minced garlic
3 Tbl butter
1 c chopped onions
¾ tsp salt
¾ tsp black pepper
½ tsp red pepper (cayenne)
¼ c chopped tasso (or ⅓ lb of bacon)
Smothered Snap Beans Directions
If you’re using fresh snap beans, snap off the stem of the beans.
In a Dutch oven (or other heavy bottomed pot) layer ⅓ of the beans, followed by ⅓ of each remaining ingredient. Repeat until all ingredients are used. The layers help with even distribution of flavors.
Cover the pot and put it on medium heat. Once you hear a little steam, reduce the heat. You should still hear faint cooking sounds. Let it cook 45 minutes. Open the pot and give it a quick stir. If the bottom is really dry, your heat is most likely too hot or you forgot your lid. Add about ½ c of water if that happens.
Cover the pot and cook for about another 45-60 minutes. The beans should be brownish-green, floppy, and most beans will be split open.
Notes
If you’re really concerned about burning the beans, you can make them in a crock pot. The cook time will be several hours.
Pair them with chicken stew, round steak, hamburger steak, baked chicken, fish, etc.
