Southern Italy: Tomato Stewed Green Beans

pressure cooker green beans
This is another multi-use recipe that can be served as side dish, or used as sauce to be enjoyed with pasta, rice or polenta.In umido, literally translated to “wet”,  means anything that is cooked in tomatoes or their puree (for example, Calamari in Umido). This dish is particularly indicative of Southern Italy, and is usually served with a dusting of Cacio Ricotta (a tangy, aged, salted , semi-hard ricotta cheese).

Usually made in two pans -the tomato sauce in one, while the beans boil in another- you can do both, in one pot and faster, by steaming the green beans with the tomato sauce in your pressure cooker!In the summer, use freshly chopped cherry or regular tomatoes, in the winter canned tomatoes and frozen green beans are perfectly acceptable.

Pressure Cooker Accessories Pr. Cook Time Pr. Level Open
6 L or larger steamer basket 5-7 min. High(2) Normal
Tomato Stewed Green Bean (Fagiolini in Umido) – pressure cooker recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: pressure cooker
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

Serves: 4-6
 

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups of fresh Tomatoes, chopped OR 14.5 oz (400g) canned (chopped, whole or cherry) Tomatoes
  • 1 lb (500g) Green Beans (Fresh or Frozen), ends removed
  • 1 Garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 sprig Basil, leaves removed
  • Olive Oil
  • 2 pinches Salt

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In the preheated pressure cooker, without the lid on medium heat, add a swirl of olive oil and crushed garlic clove.
  2. When the garlic is golden, add the tomatoes and swirl everything around.
  3. Then, add the steamer basket filled with the green beans. Sprinkle two pinches of salt onto the beans.
  4. Close and lock the lid of the pressure cooker. Turn the heat up to high and when the cooker reaches pressure, lower to the heat to the minimum required by the cooker to maintain pressure. Cook for 5-7 minutes at high pressure.
  5. When time is up, open the cooker by releasing the pressure.
  6. Pull out the steamer basket insert and trivet, and tumble the green beans out of it into the pressure cooker base and Mix the green beans with the tomato sauce.
  7. Check for doneness. If the green beans need to cook a little more, cook them together with the sauce on low flame in the pressure cooker, without the lid.
  8. When fork tender, move the green beans to a serving bowl.
  9. Sprinkle with basil leaves, and a swirl of your best olive oil before serving warm or room temperature.