Wax Beans With Mint

Here’s a simple recipe made with wax beans, or yellow green beans. Liven up the wax beans with fresh mint-infused olive oil. It’s a delicious combination for summer!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated April 28, 2022
Elise Bauer
Side view of yellow beans in a cream colored bowl.
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Every weekend during the summer, if we are lucky, there will be a good supply of wax beans at the farmers market.

These golden yellow (and sometimes purple) versions of green beans are harvested young, and are sweet and tender.

Here is a simple way to prepare them, with the subtle flavor of a mint infusion.

Side view of yellow beans in a cream colored bowl.
Cambrea Bakes

What are Yellow Wax Beans?

Wax beans, also known as yellow wax beans, are very similar to green beans, except that since wax beans don't contain chlorophyll they're not green in color like green beans. Wax beans also can have a purple hue, known as purple beans. Since wax beans, green beans, and purple beans taste alike you can use them pretty interchangeably in dishes.

How To Store and Prep Wax Beans

Store wax beans, unwashed, in your refrigerator's crisper for 3 to 5 days. When you're ready to use the beans, rinse them under cool running water, and trim the stem ends.

Try These Green Bean Recipes!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Wax Beans With Mint

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Infuse oil 60 mins
Total Time 85 mins
Servings 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces wax beans

  • Several mint leaves

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt

Method

  1. Infuse the olive oil with mint:

    A little bit ahead of time, crush a few mint leaves (reserve some for garnish) with a mortar and pestle. Put the crushed mint leaves into a small jar and add a couple tablespoons of high quality olive oil to cover.

    Let sit for at least an hour if you can. The longer the mint is in the olive oil, the better the infusion.

    Mashing mint in a bowl for a wax beans recipe.
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    Adding oil to the mint to make a wax beans recipe.
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  2. Prep the wax beans:

    Prepare the beans by cutting off and discarding the tips and ends. Snap the beans in half, if necessary, to have pieces about 2 inches in length.

    Wax beans on a cutting board to make a wax beans recipe.
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  3. Steam the beans:

    Bring an inch of water in a saucepan to a boil. Place the beans in a steamer basket in the saucepan. Cover and cook until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Check for doneness after about 8 minutes or so. If a fork easily goes through them, they're done.

    A pot of yellow beans.
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  4. Drizzle with the infused oil:

    Remove beans from pan and place them into a serving bowl. Use a strainer to drizzle the mint-infused olive oil over the beans.

    Adding dressing to a bowl of yellow beans.
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  5. Sprinkle with salt:

    Sprinkle salt over the beans to taste. (Fleur de sel would work really well with this dish.)

    Chop up a few more mint leaves to add as garnish.

    Overhead view of yellow beans in a cream colored bowl.
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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
80 Calories
7g Fat
4g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 80
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 147mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 170mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.