This Italian green beans recipe with garlic and onion is a simple but very flavorful side dish. Mixing it with many other foods is easy, and it tastes great as an appetizer.
Italian green beans are a popular variety of green beans used in many Italian dishes. They are tender, flavorful, and versatile beans that add nutrition and taste to salads, sides, soups and more. But if you’ve ever shopped for or cooked with these beans, you may have noticed they also go by other names. So what are some of the other names for Italian green beans?
Overview of Italian Green Beans
First, let’s provide some background on Italian green beans. Also called Roman beans or Romano beans, these beans are a flat, wide variety of green beans. They are more tender than regular green beans. Their texture is meatier and more substantial as well.
Italian green beans have a more pronounced flavor than standard green beans. Many describe the taste as nutty sweet and rich. The beans contain vitamins A, C, and K as well as magnesium, potassium and iron.
These nutritional powerhouses originated in Italy and remain a staple ingredient in Italian cuisine. They pair well with garlic, olive oil and onions. Popular Italian green bean dishes include minestrone soup, Italian green bean salad, and green beans with potatoes.
Now let’s explore the other names for this popular ingredient.
Regional Names in Italy
Within Italy Italian green beans are known by various regional names
- In Sicily they are called fagiolini
- In Lombardy they are known as filagne verdi
- Tuscany uses the name fagiolini toscani
- In Liguria they are called bavali
- Lazio and Umbria refer to them as fagiolini molleys
Additional regional names include zohhi, monachine and vajasse. Though the names differ the beans retain their signature wide, flat shape and tender-crisp texture no matter the regional moniker.
International Alternate Names
Outside Italy, Italian green beans are known by several other common names:
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Flat beans – Refers to their wide, flattened shape compared to round, string beans.
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Romano beans – Romano is another name for Italian, so Romano beans indicates their Italian origin.
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Pole beans – This name comes from the fact that the vines grow tall, requiring poles or trellises for support.
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String beans – While not completely accurate, some use this name interchangeably since Italian green beans are a variety of string beans.
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Snap beans – Another broad term that categorizes the crunchy, snapping texture when the beans are broken.
Appearance and Use
No matter what you call them, Italian green beans are easy to spot. Look for long, flat, bright green beans ranging from 4-10 inches in length. Most Importantly, taste one raw to test the signature sweet, nutty flavor.
Italian green beans can be prepared many ways. Braise, roast, sauté or eat them raw in salads. Their versatility makes them a staple in any kitchen.
Summary
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Regional names in Italy like fagiolini, filagne verdi and more
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International names like flat beans, Romano beans, pole beans, string beans and snap beans
But no matter what you call them, their signature flavor, texture and nutrition make them a valued ingredient worldwide. So next time you see flat green beans in the produce aisle, now you know they go by many additional names like Romano beans or Italian green beans. No matter how you refer to them, they add delicious flavor and nutrition to Italian dishes and beyond.
Ingredients to make Italian green beans
Please note that the recipe card at the end of this post has exact amounts of all the ingredients.
- Green beans from Italy: For this recipe, I used fresh green beans from Italy. You could also make this recipe with canned or frozen beans. Most canned Romano beans are already cooked, so you could skip the first step and fry them right away. If the beans are frozen, check the package to see if they still need more cooking time.
- Garlic and onion: For these Italian flat beans, fried garlic and onion go together like peanut butter and jelly.
- Pepper, chili: You don’t have to add a chili pepper to this recipe. To give this flat beans recipe a little more heat, I chose to fry one whole dried Spanish chili pepper. Don’t forget to take this chili pepper out before serving so that no one takes a bite out of it by accident (or just let everyone know).
- If you fry garlic, onion, and Italian flat beans in olive oil, they will taste like they’re from the Mediterranean. Use a good quality olive oil, preferably extra virgin.
- Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end of the cooking time makes this Romano beans dish taste better and feel a little more fresh.
What are Italian green beans?
Italian green beans are also generally known under the names of romano beans, flat beans and runner beans. They have a characteristic wide and flat shape and can grow up to 25 cm in length. When fresh beans feel firm and snap when broken in half, they are at their best. In most countries, fresh flat beans are available all year round. However, you can also find them canned, in a jar or frozen.
Romano beans are great for a healthy diet because they are low in calories and high in fiber. Make sure to always cook, sauté, braise or steam the beans since they cannot be eaten raw. Or try these grilled Italian green beans.
GARLIC GREEN BEANS RECIPE | Easy Italian Side Dish
FAQ
What are Italian green beans called?
What is the difference between green beans and Italian green beans?
Are Italian green beans the same as fava beans?
Is there another name for Romano beans?