I use Romano beans from my garden, fresh or frozen, depending on the time of year.  These large flat-podded beans are best stewed rather than al dente; I prefer that there be no crunch left to them at all. Also, be careful when making this Braised Romano Beans with Tomatoes and Feta to not make them too soupy – the tomatoes will add a bit of liquid to the broth.  These braised beans are so satisfying, almost meaty.  Great over short-grain brown rice or quinoa.

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Braised Romano Beans with Tomatoes and Feta

Author: melinmac

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds Romano Beans
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 block feta cheese
• 2 t dill
• 2 t oregano

Instructions

• Prep the veg – Slice the onion and chop across the slices so that you have little arcs. I like them to be uniform in shape and size, but it's not a big deal. Slice the tomatoes in half and then in half again.
• Saute the onion and braise the beans – Saute the onions in a small amount of oil until they have softened. Then add the beans, the broth, the tomatoes, and the herbs. Cover and cook util the beans are very soft and no longer bright green. The tomatoes will break down and infuse the broth.
• Crumble the feta and serve – Take the pan off the heat, crumble the feta, and scatter it across the top of the beans. Cover to let the feta melt and get creamy. Serve.

Cherry tomatoes aren’t a MUST for Braised Romano Beans with Tomatoes and Feta, of course, but they do hold their shape, even after they’ve been sauteed for a while, which is quite pretty. But chucks of heirloom or roma-style tomatoes are fine too – the stewy goodness works well with the hearty beans. Just use whatever you have or prefer.

Also, I don’t typically ask you to use a particular pan unless there’s a specific reason for doing so. This is one of those times – a large shallow pan is best because you don’t want the beans to be completely submerged. You want to preserve their integrity and meatiness. It does make a difference. Braised Romano Beans with Tomatoes and Feta is all about the beans, not the stew that they’re braised in. Enjoy!