French Green Beans, Herb Potatoes & Baked Fries

Easy Tarragon Green Beans & Potatoes for French BBQ Beer Can Chicken

© Heather Zorzini

Aug 30, 2009

The addition of easy-to-find herbs to these well-loved vegetables creates a delicious French-inspired menu that can be enjoyed year-round. Crusty bread and oven-baked fries are great for dipping into the jus from herb roasted beer can chicken.

French Tarragon Green Beans Recipe

Green beans with tarragon is classic French side dish recipe that is simple to prepare. Sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds for a crunchy gourmet treat. Serve a French farmhouse clafouti for an easy and elegant dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh green beans
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1Tbsp butter
• 3 shallots, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 tsp dried tarragon or 2 Tbsp fresh
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Add beans to a saucepan of boiling water.
2. Cook till tender but still crisp, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
4. Heat oil and butter in saucepan.
5. Cook shallots and garlic till softened, about 5 minutes.
6. Add tarragon and beans, stir till heated through.
7. Remove from pan.
8. Sprinkle with lemon juice and season with salt & pepper before serving.

Makes 4-6 servings

Boiled New Potatoes with Parsley and Chives Recipe

New potatoes are low in starch and still sweet, which makes them ideal to be boiled or steamed. Their delicate skins don’t require peeling, which adds to the simplicity of this recipe. Try using fresh mint, rosemary or tarragon instead of parsley and chives.

Ingredients:

• 12 small new potatoes
• 3-4 Tbsp Butter
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 Tbsp chopped chives
• freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. Scrub new potatoes but leave skins on.
2. Add to a saucepan of boiling water and cook for 20 minutes or until tender.
3. Drain and add butter, chopped parsley and chives.
4. Stir potatoes gently over low heat till well coated.
5. Season with freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.Serves 4.

Oven-Roasted French French Fries Recipe

Use herbes de Provence on these tasty oven-baked fries for a double helping of French flavour. The high starch and low moisture content of the Russet or Idaho potato makes them the best choice to be baked or fried. This recipe can also be baked in a toaster oven.

Herbes de Provence is a ready-made French blend of quality dried herbs that might include thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, basil and lavender. These oven-baked fries would also be tasty as an alternative to bread for dipping in French mussels with cider and sour cream.

Ingredients:

• 4 Russet or Idaho potatoes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp French herbes de Provence
• Freshly ground salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Peel (if desired) and slice potatoes into thin French-fry size strips.
2. Soak strips totally submerged in cold water for one hour.
3. Drain thoroughly and pat dry.
4. In a large bowl, toss potatoes with minced cloves and olive oil.
5. Crush the herbes de Provence lightly to release the essential oils and sprinkle over the potatoes.
6. Toss again.
7. Spread in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
8. Place in pre-heated 400 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or till golden.

Season baked french fries with freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4. Recipe can be easily doubled and smaller portions can be baked in a toaster oven. This technique can also be used to make parsnip and carrot fries as a potato alternative side dish.

Resource Credits:

This article was compiled using information from The Cook's Book by Howard Hillman.

Oven Baked French Fries

French Tarragon Green Beans

Shallots, Garlic & Herbes de Provence

Herb Roasted BBQ Beer Can Chicken

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