Sometimes it is the simplest meals that are the best. The ones where you have a handful of ingredients put together to make a wonderfully tasty, simple and nourishing meal, by chance most of the meals I have cooked this week have been like this. We have had Root Vegetable and Blue Cheese Bake, Red Cabbage Salad and Garlic Beans.
Garlic Beans
250g dried pinto/borlotti type bean
4tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic
Balsamic vinegar
1tsp oregano
Soak the beans overnight in cold water. If you forget to do this you can do the quick(er) soak method. Place the beans in a deep pan and fill the pan with water, bring to the boil and boil rapidly for two minutes before tuning off the heat leave to stand for a minimum of two hours.
Which ever method you use drain the beans and put in a pan, cover with water and cook for at least two hours until the beans are very soft, drain any remaining liquid.
Heat the oil in a frying pan. Peel and crush the garlic, fry in the oil for a couple of minutes taking care not to burn. Add the beans and cook until all the liquid has gone, this usually takes a out five minutes.
Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and the oregano, if you are using fresh then chop finely, stir to mix and serve.