Feijão Verde Guisado

Ingredients

• 700 ggreen beans — cut into short lengths
• 1onion — chopped
• 3 clovesgarlic — sliced
• 3ripe tomatoes — grated
• 5 tbspolive oil
• 200 mlwater
• 2eggs — cracked into the pan at the end
• to tastefine sea salt

Method

1. Begin by preparing your vegetables. Trim the ends of 700 g of green beans and cut them into pieces about 5 cm long. Dice 1 onion finely and mince 3 cloves of garlic. Peel and chop 3 ripe tomatoes into small cubes. This uniform size ensures even cooking and helps the vegetables hold their shape on the plate.
2. Heat 5 tbsp of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion to the pot. Stir gently, allowing them to cook slowly until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic releases its aroma, which should take about 3-4 minutes. This step infuses the oil with flavor, setting the base for the dish.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot, stirring them into the garlic and onion mixture. Let them cook until they begin to break down and form a sauce, which should take about 5 minutes. The tomatoes should become soft and start to meld with the onions and garlic, creating a fragrant base.
4. Introduce the green beans to the pot, stirring them into the tomato mixture. Pour in 200 ml of water, ensuring the beans are partially submerged. Cover the pot with a lid and let the beans stew gently, stirring occasionally. Cook until the beans are tender but still bright green, which should take about 15-20 minutes. They should be soft enough to bite through easily but still have a slight snap.
5. While the beans are cooking, prepare the eggs. In a separate small pot, bring water to a boil and gently add 2 eggs. Boil them for about 8-10 minutes until they are hard-boiled, then remove them from the pot and place them in cold water to cool. Once cooled, peel and slice the eggs.
6. Once the beans are cooked to the desired tenderness, season the dish with fine sea salt to taste. Stir well to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed. The dish should have a balanced flavor with the sweetness of the tomatoes and the richness of the olive oil.
7. Serve the Feijão Verde Guisado warm or at room temperature. Arrange the sliced hard-boiled eggs on top of the beans before serving. This dish pairs wonderfully with a main course, offering a comforting and flavorful addition to your meal.