Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Green Beans

Quick, simple, flavorful.

Ingredients

2 lbs. Fresh green beans, trimmed
1 gallon Water
¼ cup + 1 tsp Kosher salt
¼ cup Extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Fresh garlic, minced
¼ cup Dry white wine
¼ cup Chicken stock
½ tsp Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

Bring the water and ¼ cup salt to a boil in a large pot. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water. Add the green beans to the boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water just long enough to cool them down. Drain from the ice water and set green beans aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute to avoid burning. Add the green beans and increase heat to medium-high heat, stirring frequently for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the wine and continue cooking until almost all the wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and continue cooking until green beans are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Add more stock as needed if it evaporates completely before they are tender. Season with the remaining salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Recent Recipes

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more

Harrison’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Having a son who’s following in your footsteps is one thing. Watching him take what you’ve taught him and elevate it to something even better—that’s special. During his Christmas break from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, a few years ago, he nudged me out of the way and made these mashed potatoes. I was skeptical, of course as I’ve been making mashed potatoes for decades. But there was no question his version was better. There’s a lot of pride in seeing him excel in the kitchen, making something as simple as mashed potatoes taste extraordinary. This recipe has become a new tradition in our family. Watching him cook now, with all that skill and precision, is a proud moment for me every time. This is his recipe, and I’ve adopted it as my own.

Read more