French beans with butter
( Fagiolini al burro )

Top, tail and string the French beans. Steam them for 10-15 minutes, according to their size, until nice and crisp; you can add a slice of lemon to the boiling water. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking. In a saucepan, melt the butter without browning it; add the French beans, salt, chilli, if you like, and chopped parsley. Simmer for few minutes, stirring.
They should be served hot.

Note

• - Butter can be substituted with 3 tablespoons olive oil for a lighter dish; in this case you can add a clove of garlic if you like. You can use freshly ground pepper instead of chilli.