Name: Grilled Roman beans
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 large head of garlic; 60 ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil; 75 gm smoked bacon rashers, diced; 400 gm passata; 300 gm Roman beans, or other long bean; 1 tbsp lemon juice

Grilled Roman beans

Grilling a hardy bean such as the Roman variety is an easy way to add a smoky hit to the otherwise humble side dish. Add roasted garlic and crisp bits of bacon and watch as the whole lot is devoured.

Serves 6

Prep

15M

Cook

1H 30M

Total

1H 45M

“Crisp bacon bits! What’s not to love?” says Mike Eggert. “Roman beans are easily our favourite bean. They aren’t around all year, so get them when you can. They’re meaty and hardy enough to take a good smoky grilling – almost the perfect vegetable in our book.”

Ingredients

1 large head of garlic

60 ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil

75 gm smoked bacon rashers, diced

400 gm passata

300 gm Roman beans, or other long bean

1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Sit garlic on a double layer of foil, drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil, wrap and roast until tender (45-60 minutes). Unwrap and leave to cool.

2.Meanwhile, in a small frying pan, fry bacon over medium-low heat, stirring often, until fat renders and bacon becomes crisp (12-15 minutes). Drain on paper towel.

3.Simmer passata in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until very thick (18-20 minutes). Remove from heat. Squeeze roasted garlic out of its skin and coarsely chop. Fold into tomato sauce and season to taste.

4.Heat a char-grill pan over high heat. Toss beans with 1 tsp oil, season to taste and grill, pressing them on the base of the pan, until lightly charred and softened (3-4 minutes each side). Halve width ways, add to sauce along with lemon juice and remaining oil. Scatter with bacon and serve.

Jemma Whiteman

Profile Mike Eggert

Styling by Lisa Featherby