Green beans and tomatoes with caper dressing

Name: Green beans and tomatoes with caper dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Mediterranean recipes
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil; 150g country bread, roughly torn into chunks; 200g very ripe tomatoes; 1 tbsp capers in brine, rinsed and drained (see Henry’s tips); 1 garlic clove, crushed; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar; Small bunch fresh basil; 350g green beans, trimmed; 4 medium free-range eggs; 2 tbsp mixed olives, chopped; 150g cherry tomatoes, halved

By: Henry Dimbleby

Published: 5 Oct 15
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Test kitchen approved

Henry Dimbleby reminisces of holidays spent in southern Spain and how this bean and tomato recipe, inspired by his mother, takes him back.

Serves 4
Hands-on time 30 min

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Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil
150g country bread, roughly torn into chunks
200g very ripe tomatoes
1 tbsp capers in brine, rinsed and drained (see Henry’s tips)
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Small bunch fresh basil
350g green beans, trimmed
4 medium free-range eggs
2 tbsp mixed olives, chopped
150g cherry tomatoes, halved

Method

Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add 2 tbsp oil and the bread chunks. Gently fry the croutons until crisp and golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.
For the dressing, halve the 200g tomatoes and extract all the juice by rubbing them through a sieve into a bowl (discard the flesh/skins). Add the capers, garlic, vinegar, remaining oil and basil leaves. Whizz in a blender (or with a stick blender).
Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large salad bowl along with the dressing.
Make a whirlpool in the boiling water and quickly crack 2 eggs into the centre. Turn down the heat to a gentle simmer and allow the eggs to poach for 2 minutes or until the whites are set and the yolks are still runny. Remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon, drain and reserve. Repeat with the other eggs. (You could also use soft-boiled eggs and peel and chop them.)
Toss the beans and dressing with the chopped olives, cherry tomatoes and croutons. Season well and serve topped with the poached eggs.

Recipe from September 2015 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 335kcals
Fat: 18.9g (3.6g saturated)
Protein: 14.3g
Carbohydrates: 24.5g (5.6g sugars)
Fibre: 5.3g
Salt: 0.8g

delicious. tips

Henry says; ‘If you can find them, salted capers have a better flavour (although they will need soaking and rinsing). Also, try using grilled courgettes or aubergines instead of green beans.’
You can make the dressing up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Bring up to room temperature, then serve.

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Green beans and tomatoes with caper dressing

Ingredients

Method

Nutrition

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