Recipes for Runner Beans

... because french beans contain a toxin that all raw beans contain ... lectin??? I might have just made that word up so don't quote me!!

Not sure what the effect of eating raw beans is, and I think, as with all things it can affect some people worse than others.  But my mother was adamant that you could eat raw peas but never ever raw string beans or runner beans.

I tried the runner beans and was a very sorry girl, so I'm assuming she's also right about the french beans (wot she would have called string beans!).

If you have a tuna nicoise salad in a posh restaurant I've noticed that the french beans are never raw.

I like them cooked with tomatoes & garlic (greek).

Sautee an onion with garlic add 2 or 3 chopped n peeled beef tomatoes (or a tin), a veg oxo cube & some oregano.  cook on low heat for abut 1/2 hour then add green beans chopped to a couple of inches long.  Cook till beans are done (1/2 hr ish).

Even nicer when you add cyprus potatoes cut into long wedges at same time as beans but at this time of year are getting difficult to get, large jersey royals make a reasonable substitute but are easier to overcook.

I luv runner bean chutney and cheese butties - yum