Green Bean Salad With Basil Buttermilk Dressing

Step 1: Place beans, 2/3 cup water, and salt in a large 12" skillet. Cover, turn heat to high, and bring water to a boil. (Refer to NOTE, below).

Step 2: Once beans start to steam, set timer and cook until beans are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. (DO NOT LET SKILLET RUN DRY).

Step 3: Drain beans, then place them onto a paper towel-lined cookie sheet to cool quickly. (This will allow the beans to retain their flavor, instead of placing them in cold water which will result in the flavor being lost.)

Step 4: Transfer cooked beans to a large bowl, add tomatoes.

Dressing

Step 5: Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour dressing over beans and tomatoes, toss to coat, and serve.

NOTE: The method of cooking the green beans here results in perfectly cooked green beans; they are steamed in just enough salted water, that by the time they are done they are perfectly cooked and seasoned by the time the water has evaporated, instead of boiling them in lots of water. Cooking them this way, however, does require your presence. You will hear the sizzle of the last water droplets turning to steam; if you decide to visit the garden or do some laundry in the basement, you may end up scorching the beans, so keep a hawk-eye on them.