In keeping with this week’s continuing bout of physical and technological plague, I am still to tired too be original. So here’s another popular recipe from mi madre. If you’re looking for something interesting to do with green beans, I highly recommend this savory dish. And according to mom, so does my daddy-o:

Steve LOVES my smokey green beans… I’m so proud of the flavors in this simple dish. He gives it a 10+, high praise for Steve. John Thorne would be proud of me, Monica. I followed some principles in the slow, patient approach to cooking… that is, let it brown and use those precious flavor-infused tidbits to bring richness to the taste.

Smokey Green Beans

2-3 cups fresh green beans, cleaned and snapped in half
1 ripe tomato chopped, skin, seeds and all
1/2 large onion, sliced vertically into long strips
1 potato, boiled but firm, chopped in 1/2″ pieces (leave the skin on)
1/2 – 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, original recipe
canola spray
garlic salt, to taste
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
water
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sugar, or to taste

Use a non-stick large frying pan. Spray with canola spray. Over a rather high heat, add the green beans. Let them sit and form blackened places before turning. Cook this way about two minutes and add the onion. Keep adding spray as needed. Let them brown without cooking through. Add the tomato, seasonings and potato. Cook another few minutes then add some water, scraping up all the browned bits that are so full of flavor. Cover and let the mixture “sweat” awhile. When the pan dries out, add more water and scrape up those delicious browned bits. The tomato will break down into a saucelike texture. The potato will start to release some soft bits which will thicken the “gravy” as you add water. Adjust the seasonings. Green beans should be tender, onions almost carmelized, and potato still in chunks. Put in serving container. Add a bit more water to the frying pan, to loosen the last of the flavorful bits and pour over the green beans and serve. Mmmmmmmm…