Crisp-tender beans add snap and color to the garlicky melange of shrimp and creamy butter beans in this Spanish-inspired saute. Prepeeled shrimp can be worth their weight in gold for the amount of time they'll save on a harried weeknight.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

4 cups green beans, trimmed (about 12 ounces)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup minced garlic
2 teaspoons paprika
1 pound raw shrimp (21-25 per pound), peeled and deveined
2 16-ounce cans large butter beans or cannellini beans, rinsed
1/4 cup sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Put green beans in a steamer basket, place in the pan, cover and steam until tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and paprika and cook, stirring constantly, until just fragrant but not browned, about 20 seconds. Add shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Stir in butter beans (or cannellini) and vinegar; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup parsley.
3. Divide the green beans among 4 plates. Top with the shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with pepper and the remaining 1/4 cup parsley.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 423 calories; 16 g fat (2 g sat, 11 g mono); 172 mg cholesterol; 45 g carbohydrate; 36 g protein; 14 g fiber; 697 mg sodium; 855 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Selenium (63% daily value), Vitamin C (45% dv), Potassium (41% dv), Iron (40% dv), Vitamin A (35% dv), Calcium (20% dv).

2 Carbohydrate Servings

Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 5 very lean meat, 3 fat (mono)

TIP: Ingredient Note: When you use canned beans in a recipe, be sure to rinse them first in a colander under cold running water, as their canning liquid often contains a fair amount of sodium.

Ew fooled me with this one. I had no idea it would taste so good. The vinegar is the surprise flavor. Quick to fix.

Anonymous