Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Green Bean Sformato: A Delightful Starter You Simply Must Try
Discover how to make a soft and flavoursome green bean sformato that’s sure to win hearts at the dinner table!
📖 What is it
Discover how to make a soft and flavoursome green bean sformato that’s sure to win hearts at the dinner table!
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 500g fresh green beans
- ✓ 1 onion
- ✓ a handful of parsley
- ✓ 1 celery stalk
- ✓ extra virgin olive oil
- ✓ 40g plain flour
- ✓ 200ml milk
- ✓ 4 eggs
- ✓ grated Sicilian pecorino cheese
- ✓ salt
- ✓ freshly ground black pepper
📊 Nutritional Information
Immerse yourself in the authentic aromas and tastes of Sicily with this green bean sformato, a dish that marries the freshness of crisp vegetables with the creamy richness of béchamel and the bold character of pecorino cheese. Ideal for spring and summer days, it offers a refined yet comforting take on traditional Sicilian country cooking.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Lightly boil the green beans in plenty of salted water.
- 2
Gently fry the onion, parsley and celery in extra virgin olive oil, then add the green beans and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- 3
Make a béchamel sauce using butter, plain flour and milk, then combine it with the green beans, grated pecorino and beaten eggs.
- 4
Mix everything together and pour into a buttered baking dish.
- 5
Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 30-35 minutes.
- 6
Serve the sformato piping hot.
💡 Tips and Variations
- •
For a richer flavour, try folding in some grated aged caciocavallo cheese.
- •
Add a pinch of nutmeg to the béchamel for an extra aromatic touch.
- •
For a lighter version, swap the traditional béchamel for one made with skimmed milk and rice flour.
- •
To make it vegan, use a béchamel made from soy milk and nutritional yeast instead of cheese.
- •
The secret to a creamy, comforting texture is to cook the green beans gently beforehand, bringing out their natural sweetness.
📦 Storage
- • Store the sformato in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days to keep its flavour and texture intact.
- • If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it once cooked, wrapping it well in cling film or foil, and use within a month.
- • To reheat, warm it in a preheated oven at 160°C for about 10 minutes to restore its softness and original aroma.
🍷 Pairing
Pair this sformato with a Sicilian wine like Cerasuolo di Vittoria, whose fresh, fruity notes perfectly balance the dish’s creaminess. Alternatively, a Sicilian Grillo or a Ligurian Vermentino work just as well, while for those who fancy an international twist, a Friulian Pinot Grigio is a versatile and elegant choice.
Making this green bean sformato is like bringing a slice of Sicily straight to your table, full of tradition and flavour. I warmly encourage you to give this recipe a go, share it with your loved ones, and let yourself be won over by the simple elegance of a dish that truly tells the story of our land.
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