Green Beans With Ground Meat (Beef or Pork)

This is a dish eaten with rice or mixed with rice and seasoned with patis but it is not considered a side dish by Filipinos. It is usually eatien with rice or it can have a complimentary dish or two like fried fish or grilled pork chops or pork ribs, but still eaten with rice. 

However, it can be used as a side dish when eaten with American main dishes like ham or meat such as chicken fried steak. 

Leftovers can be made into fried vegetable lumpia.

You need about a pound or less of fresh green beans, slivered or julienned

Shave (not slice or cut) each bean pod thinly with a razor sharp paring knife, diagonally french cut style.

• ½  lb. ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
• ½ medium onion, sliced thin then cut in half
• 1 Roma tomato diced (optional)
• 1 tsp. Patis (fish sauce) (optional)
• 1 cube beef bouillon
• salt
• pepper

Brown the ground beef or ground pork then drain and set aside. Add 1 TBS. oil in the same skillet, heat then add the garlic. Stir a few times then add the onions, cook stirring until soft. Add the diced tomato now if using and cook while pressing until tomatoes are soft. Add the browned beef. Add about a teaspoon of patis at this point if using.  Add about 3/4 cup water, let boil then add the beef bouillon. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the green beans and cook in medium heat covered, stirring occasionally until crisp tender but not over or undercooked.  Cover to reduce water evaporation.  Check the juice and add more water if needed or to your preference.  Some people like it a little on the soupy side. Taste, add salt, about 1/2 tsp. at first and about 1/8 tsp. pepper. 

Note: Ground pork can also be used instead of ground beef. You can also add diced tomatoes if desired when using ground pork. It will have a little tangy/sweet taste.