This green bean slaw was inspired by time spent in Rome, 2010. Forever ago, but it’s a recipe I still revisit. Wayne and I kept finding ourselves in the Testaccio neighborhood. It’s across the river and a bit more of a walk to the historical center when compared to Trastevere, but, at the time, it felt like the real deal. Anyone who has been there knows, it’s a challenge to find a corner of Rome that isn’t jam-packed with tourists. But Testaccio was one of them, the old market was still there, a bustling hub frequented by the locals. There was a bakery, espresso stop, and pizzeria on just about every block. We rented an apartment for a month, and this nut-studded, slaw-like green bean salad was something I made from a few things I picked up in the nearby shops and stalls.
A few notes about the salad. It is a mish-mash of ingredients to be sure. But somehow I think they work together. In addition to the green beans you have an arugula and shredded cabbage base punctuated with golden raisins plumped with sweet moscato wine – you could experiment with any dessert wine, or even fruit juices. Beyond that, I tossed in some toasted walnuts, croutons, and shaved pecorino cheese. You get sweetness and saltiness from the raisins and cheese, and crunch from the nuts, croutons, and cabbage playing off the creaminess of the dressing. It’s substantial enough to make a meal of, but not too heavy. It was quite hot the day I made it, and the resulting lunch was just right along with a couple other antipasti.
For those of you who have been to Testaccio, it’s amazing on the food front. Volpetti is around the corner – my supply for (in addition to a host of other things) sheep’s milk ricotta and the most intense, luxe Greek yogurt ever. There is a shop dedicated to spices a block away, and another for fresh egg pasta. Sitting in the shaded park across the street from 00100 with a slice and a beer is really hard to beat. And the nice elderly lady I bought eggs from the last time I stayed in Rome is still selling in the corner of the Testaccio market, the yolks of her eggs just as orange as I remember.
More Green Bean Recipes
- Green Bean Salad with Peaches
- Vibrant Tasty Green Beans
- Blistered Green Beans with Walnut Sauce
- Pomelo Green Beans
- Feisty Green Beans
- Summer Green Bean Salad
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