They’re a French variety of green bean, also known as haricots verts, or filet beans. Haricots verts are more delicate than regular green beans and cook up more quickly. This is a simple recipe in which you blanch the beans first and then sauté them quickly in a little butter with onions and fresh garden herbs. If you can’t find haricots verts, you can use regular fresh green beans, just boil them a little longer. Do you have a method of preparing haricots verts? Please let us know about it in the comments. You can substitute regular green beans in this recipe, however, they’re a little sweeter and less earthy than haricots verts. The herbs used here complement the earthy haricots verts but also work with regular green beans.

How To Select Fresh Green Beans at the Store

Look for the freshest beans at the farmers market or grocery store. They should be firm, smooth, vibrantly colored pods that snap easily when you bend them.

How to Store and Freeze French Green Beans

Store unwashed green beans in the refrigerator in a zipper top bag or airtight container for up to 7 days. Wash them right before using. To freeze French green beans, trim fresh beans and blanch them so they keep their color, flavor, and texture. Store them in freezer proof zipper top bags for 10 to 12 months.

What to Serve With French Green Beans

Glazed Baked Ham Classic Baked Chicken Mom’s Roast Turkey Provencal Potato Salad Easy Baked Salmon

More Green Bean Recipes to Make!

Green Beans With Bacon Creamy Green Beans and Mushrooms Green Beans With Almonds and Thyme Green Beans With Salsa Sriracha Orange Glazed Green Beans

If you are using regular green beans, and not haricots vert, just boil them a little longer. Plunge them into the ice water to stop the cooking and set the color. Drain the beans and pat dry on a cloth or paper towel. Serve hot or at room temperature, with lemon wedges.