This simple recipe actually makes quite an elegant side dish. Though the sauce contains only two ingredients, it has a complex flavor. Your guests will think you spent a ton of time, but you can have the dish ready in the few minutes it takes to steam the green beans.

　　

Ingredients

4 servings

　　1 pound green beans, trimmed

　　2 tablespoons stone-ground or whole-grain mustard

　　1/4 cup light sour cream

　　Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

　　

Stovetop Instructions

Step 1

Place a steamer insert in a large pot and add enough water to reach just below the insert. Place the pot over high heat, cover with a lid, and bring the water to a boil. Add the green beans and re-cover the pot, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Steam the beans for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender. Drain them well.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, mix the mustard and sour cream in a small bowl until well combined.

　　

Step 3

Transfer the beans to a large glass or plastic serving bowl and add the mustard mixture. Toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

　　

Microwave Instructions

Step 4

Follow the stovetop directions, except instead of cooking the beans in a steamer, put 3 tablespoons water and the green beans in a medium microwave-safe bowl or dish. Cover the dish with a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the beans are crisp-tender. Drain them well.

　　

nutrition information

Step 5

Each (about 1-cup) serving has:

　　

Step 6

Calories: 47

　　

Step 7

Protein: 2g

　　

Step 8

Carbohydrates: 8g

　　

Step 9

Fat: 1g

　　

Step 10

Saturated Fat: <1g

　　

Step 11

Cholesterol: 5mg

　　

Step 12

Fiber: 4g

　　

Step 13

Sodium: 108mg

　　Reprinted with permission from I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening! by Devin Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Devin Alexander. Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Devin Alexander is the author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever, Fast Food Fix, and coauthor of The New York Times bestsellers The Biggest Loser Cookbook and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. She was a chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser and the host of Healthy Decadence on Discover Health and FitTV.