Roasted French green beans and cherry tomatoes can both be found locally during the summer; truly making this a seasonal dish. These tender, yet crisp green beans, also known as haricots verts or French filet beans, are thin and slender and as a result, cook quickly, which is perfect for a quick weeknight side dish.

I bought these beans at the farmers’ market this past Sunday along with some bright red cherry tomatoes that were very tiny, but full of flavor. In fact, I’ve never tasted a cherry tomato that tastes so good.

I know that I’ve made some similar comments in several of my posts over the summer, but believe me, it’s the honest to goodness truth. I guess that’s just a testament to how much there is to discover about food that’s fresh picked and in season.

I simply tossed these beans and cherry tomatoes with a little extra-virgin olive oil and kosher salt, and then roasted them at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. They came out of the oven cooked, but still a little crispy with the warm tomatoes bursting their tart and sweet flavor onto the pan.

If you aren’t a big fan of crisp green beans, you can boil the beans first for about five minutes before roasting them with the tomatoes.  I wouldn’t roast them for more than 10 minutes because then they tend to wilt and overcook.

Also, if you can’t find French green beans, the next best thing are young, small green beans. Since these beans aren’t always readily available in supermarkets, don’t plan to make this recipe and then shop. Go shopping first, and if you come across some beautiful haricots verts or small green beans that catch your eye, come back to this reference on how to enjoy them.