Warm Green Bean and Potato Salad

I picked up some wonderful things at our neighborhood's farmer's market this past Friday.  I grabbed three zucchini and three yellow squash, a huge bunch of basil, several peaches, some plums, red potatoes, and green beans.  Sunday night we had grilled turkey Italian sausage with lemon basil pesto-roasted bell peppers and zucchini.  It is amazing how delicious freshly made pesto is.  And the combination of the cheese and the pine nuts gave the roasted vegetables a rich flavor and helped them caramelize nicely.  

Last night, I used the potatoes and green beans to make this very tasty warm green bean and potato salad a la Martha Stewart.  While it calls for four slices of bacon, I think two would be just fine.  I recommend crisping up the bacon first and using a tablespoon of the rendered fat in place of the olive oil. Then, continue as suggested in step two.  This gives you a less greasy result!   The lemon juice adds a nice acidity to the dish, but a little white balsamic or red wine vinegar would also do in a pinch.

Warm Green Bean and Potato Salad

Serves 4
1 pound red new potatoes

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths

1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. In a large saucepan, cover potatoes with 2 inches salted water. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high; add potatoes and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, mashing potatoes slightly, until golden brown in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and keep warm.
3. Add bacon to skillet. Cook until bacon is browned, about 3 minutes. Add green beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add to potatoes along with lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and pepper and toss gently to combine.

Have you visited your farmer's market lately?  What have you been buying?