March 27, 2021 | By Meghan Jaszczak
This episode of Biblio Bistro features Citrusy Green Beans which highlights green beans and citrus. Green beans are usually available at Farmers Markets in mid-to-late summer through early fall. Michael and Meghan used frozen green beans for this episode, which are a nutritious and budget-friendly option in the off-season. Citrus was also used, which is in peak season during the winter months!
About Citrusy Green Beans
This light and citrusy twist on steamed green beans is great for a quick healthy summer (or summer-inspired) side dish. Enjoy hot or cold. The more it sits in the marinade, the more it soaks up the flavor!
In total, this recipe was only $4.13 to prepare, or $1.03 per serving!
Healthy Eating Tips from Dietitian Meghan
- Frozen Produce – Frozen produce offers a lot of nutrition and is a budget-friendly way to eat veggies during the offseason. They are picked at peak nutrition and then flash frozen, which preserves most of their nutrients.
- Green Beans – Green beans are a good source of fiber, which helps keep you fuller for a longer period of time and also keeps your digestive system regular. Green beans are also easily digestible for those with sensitive stomachs.
- Citrus – Peak season is in winter.
Cooking Tips from Chef Michael
- Using frozen produce also saves you prep time!
- To speed up cooking frozen veggies, you can use some steaming water to quickly cook the vegetables.
- When zesting citrus, you only want to take off the colored portion. As soon as you see the white layer (called the pith) underneath, begin zesting a different portion of the citrus. The white layer is edible, but extremely bitter.
Farmers Markets in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula
From Calumet to L’Anse to Bruce Crossing there are great farmers markets all over Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Our friends at the Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative have put together a great resource on this that gets updated regularly. Check out a full list of farmers markets here, wupfoodsystems.com/farmers-markets.
About Biblio Bistro
The Biblio Bistro series strives to show that healthy cooking doesn’t have to be boring or laborious. Our goal is that by watching this series, participants can feel more confident and curious in the kitchen, all the while increasing fruit and veggie intake and supporting the local food system! Learn more about Biblio Bistro at pldl.org/biblio-bistro.
About Portage Health Foundation’s Food Initiative
Portage Health Foundation is passionate about making a difference when it comes to food in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. PHF’s Food Initiative is two-fold. First, the food initiative aims to improve access to locally grown and healthful foods within our community. Second, it provides educational resources and tools to promote sustainable changes to eating and lifestyle habits for all. Learn more about this initiative at phfgive.org/food.