Have you ever tried using fancy sea salts in your cooking? This recipe is a great place to try a special salt. Because the flavors are so simple, a nice salt really stands out and pairs perfectly with the beans and lime juice. If you happen to have little girls, it’s always fun to use pink sea salt that you shave yourself—they’re likely to think it looks like a jewel. That said, traditional sea salt tastes great, too. If you’re entertaining with this dish, be sure to toss the beans in the lime juice and salt just before serving your guests. The acid in the lime juice may cause the beans to eventually turn brown (though even if this happens, they’ll still taste great).

　　

Ingredients

makes 2 servings

　　1/2 pound green beans, trimmed

　　2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon lime juice, or more to taste

　　Sea salt 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 it, 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

Transfer the beans to a medium glass or plastic mixing bowl. Toss the beans with the lime juice. Season with salt. Serve immediately.

　　

Microwave Instructions

Step 3

Follow the directions above, 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. Serve immediately.

　　

nutrition nutrition

Step 4

Each (about 1-cup) serving has:

　　

Step 5

Calories: 29

　　

Step 6

Protein: 1g

　　

Step 7

Carbohydrates: 7g

　　

Step 8

Fat: 0g

　　

Step 9

Saturated Fat: 0g

　　

Step 10

Cholesterol: 0mg

　　

Step 11

Fiber: 4g

　　

Step 12

Trace Sodium

　　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.