Italian Flat Beans

I recently discovered these beans in my grocery store and had no idea what they were. They looked like very long string beans that had been flattened out. I decided to blanch them and then saute with with onions and tomatoes-the results were delicious!

Ingredients:

• Italian flat beans, cut into 2 inch pieces

• olive oil

• 1/2 vidalia onion, sliced thin

• 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

• 1 cup chopped tomatoes

• 1 pinch oregano

• couple of leaves of fresh basil, sliced

• salt and pepper to taste

• grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese

Directions:

Blanch the beans in boiling water for a few minutes then drain.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and saute the onions for a few minutes. Add the garlic and the beans and stir for one minute. Add the tomatoes, seasonings and cover. Simmer on low for 20 minutes. Serve with grated cheese as a side dish.