Green Beans With Caramelized Garlic

Prep: 15 min., Cook: 24 min. Gently cooking the garlic in oil mellows the flavor and tenderizes the cloves. Once you've removed the cloves, store garlic-infused oil in a jar in the fridge up to one month to add garlicky goodness to other dishes.

Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1  garlic bulb
• 1/2  cup  olive oil
• 2  pounds  green beans, trimmed
• 1  red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  pepper

Preparation

1. Peel garlic cloves, and place in a small saucepan with olive oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, 6 to 7 minutes or until tender and golden. Remove garlic, using a slotted spoon. Reserve garlic and 2 Tbsp. garlic oil; store remaining oil in refrigerator.

2. Cook beans in boiling salted water to cover in a Dutch oven 8 to 9 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Plunge into salted ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.

3. Sauté bell pepper in 2 Tbsp. hot reserved garlic oil in Dutch oven over medium heat 3 minutes or until tender. Add beans and garlic cloves, tossing to coat; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Toss beans with salt and pepper.