Crispy Pan-Friend Beans and Wilted Greens

 In
Yields1 Serving
 8 ounces (1/2 bunch) Swiss chard
 1 onion, thinly sliced
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 12 ounces (2 cups or one 15-ounce can) cannelloni or other white beans, drained and rinsed
 Zest from one lemon
 Juice from 1/2 lemon
 1 teaspoon za'atar spice blend
 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
 Good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
1

Trim the center stem from the Swiss chard and slice the leaves cross-wise into ribbons. Chop the stems into bite-sized pieces.

2

Heat one teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions with 1/2 teaspoon salt until they are very soft and uniformly golden-brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the chopped chard stems, 1 minute. Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl.

3

Warm another 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil, enough to coat the entire bottom of the pan. Add the beans and spread them into a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without stirring. Stir and spread them out again. Repeat until all the beans are blistered all over. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning the beans.

4

Stir the chard leaves, the za'atar, and another 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the beans. Stir until the chard is completely wilted and tastes tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion mixture back in, along with the lemon zest and juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir and taste. Add more lemon juice, salt, or other seasonings to taste.

5

Serve immediately, drizzling a little extra-virgin olive oil over each dish. Add a poached egg, a scoop of pasta, or a piece of toast to make a more complete meal. The beans will lose their crispiness as they cool, but leftovers still make a tasty meal. This dish will keep refrigerated for up to a week.

Ingredients

 8 ounces (1/2 bunch) Swiss chard
 1 onion, thinly sliced
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 12 ounces (2 cups or one 15-ounce can) cannelloni or other white beans, drained and rinsed
 Zest from one lemon
 Juice from 1/2 lemon
 1 teaspoon za'atar spice blend
 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
 Good-quality extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1

Trim the center stem from the Swiss chard and slice the leaves cross-wise into ribbons. Chop the stems into bite-sized pieces.

2

Heat one teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions with 1/2 teaspoon salt until they are very soft and uniformly golden-brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the chopped chard stems, 1 minute. Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl.

3

Warm another 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil, enough to coat the entire bottom of the pan. Add the beans and spread them into a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without stirring. Stir and spread them out again. Repeat until all the beans are blistered all over. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning the beans.

4

Stir the chard leaves, the za'atar, and another 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the beans. Stir until the chard is completely wilted and tastes tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion mixture back in, along with the lemon zest and juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir and taste. Add more lemon juice, salt, or other seasonings to taste.

5

Serve immediately, drizzling a little extra-virgin olive oil over each dish. Add a poached egg, a scoop of pasta, or a piece of toast to make a more complete meal. The beans will lose their crispiness as they cool, but leftovers still make a tasty meal. This dish will keep refrigerated for up to a week.

Notes

Crispy Pan-Friend Beans and Wilted Greens