Italian flat beans with creamy onions

This recipe has been a long time favourite in my family. I am not sure who came up with the recipe but my sister made it a lot as I was growing up. We usually have it as a side dish but it's fantastic on its own with some fresh crusty bread. Italian flat beans are similar to green beans but have larger flatter pods and are usually available in most good green grocers. Serves 3



Ingredients

300-400g Italian Flat Beans, top ends cut off
1 large Spanish onion, sliced thinly
1 large garlic clove, chopped finely
1 cup cream
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. Bring salted water to boil in a medium saucepan. While that's happening, chop onion and garlic.
2. Heat up oil in a frying pan and add the onions. Pan fry on medium heat until soft and golden brown, stirring regularly to keep from burning. Turn the heat all the way down
3. Add the beans to boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes.
4. While the beans are boiling, add garlic and cream to the onions and bring the heat up to medium. Stir in a good pinch of sea salt and pepper and sauté for a minute.
5. Drain the beans and mix them through with the creamy onions.
6. Serve as a side dish or by itself with some crusty bread.

Note: when buying Italian flat beans, also called Romano beans, select small, brightly coloured beans that snap when you break them in half. You can substitute with snap beans or green beans.