I came across this recipe from the Groningen area of the Netherlands and it’s described as an autumn dish, but with lovely fresh runner beans it seems quite nice for summer. The recipe I have uses streaky bacon which certainly my family wouldn’t like, and also it is put into the boiling water with the potatoes, which I wouldn’t like! i have slightly adjusted the recipe for my family, but I’m sure most recipes are tweaked to suit taste! This serves six, or is enough to put some in the freezer (without the runner beans) for another time
Summer/autumn mash
- 2 lbs floury potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks
- 10 oz smoked bacon, cut in strips or bite sized pieces
- 1 lb runner beans, stringed if not stringless, cut as you prefer (but adjust how long they are cooked for!)
- 10 oz tinned white beans – haricot, cannellini etc whatever you have or like
- 4 oz butter
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg
- cook the potatoes for twenty mins or until done
- while they are cooking, cook the green beans in a little salted water but keep crisp (unless you like them soggy), and fry the bacon as you prefer it, crispy or not
- heat the white beans
- drain the potatoes and the white beans and mash together with the butter and olive oil
- mix in the bacon and then the green beans, reserving a few to garnish
- add salt pepper and nutmeg to taste
- put into serving dish, sprinkle with bean and bacon garnish, and if you like dribble over some olive oil
I think this would be nice with sausages!
Lois Elsden 