Green Beans with Apricots and Serrano Ham
See how shiny and plump these apricots are? That's what you want to look for.
I rehydrated them with fino sherry and boiling water.
Mysterious grapes.
Kristy, helps me trim the tops from the beans -- always more fun with a friend!
Topped beans -- I used haricots verts, but you can use skinny green beans if you can find them. (I'm slicing chives in the background.)
How to slice an apple into tiny cubes. Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Grapes that have lost their stem.
Slicing the Serrano ham. That's Kristen, working hard, coffee nearby.
Slice the ham thinly.
Cubing the slices.
Blanching the beans. Don't move on to another task -- the beans cook in a flash!
Slice the still-warm apricots.
Combine the beans, fruit and herbs in a bowl, and dress with olive oil, and...
sherry vinegar.
Mix carefully -- green beans like nothing more than getting flipped out of their mixing bowl.
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Author Notes: I had this strange and bewitching little salad at Jaleo, a Spanish restaurant that’s part of Jose Andres's Washington D.C. empire. There are no earth-shattering techniques or unusual ingredients involved. Just some dried apricots plumped with sherry and Serrano ham cut into confetti-like cubes. After blanching the haricots verts you want to keep them warm, and toss them quickly with the ham and warm apricots. The heat of the beans should warm the fat in the ham so it helps flavor the salad. Simple dishes are all about this kind of detail.
- amanda
Serves 4
- Salt
- 6 dried apricots (or fresh, sweet ones)
- 1/2 cup fino sherry (or whatever sherry you can find; a sweet one will work, too)
- 1/3 cup small green grapes
- 1/3 Granny Smith apple, skin on
- One 1/8-inch-thick slice Serrano ham or prosciutto (about 1.5 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon sliced chives
- 3/4 pounds haricots verts or thin green beans, topped but not tailed
- 1 to 2 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, place the apricots in a bowl and pour over the sherry and ½ cup boiling water (yes, you can take it from the pot of boiling water!). Let the apricots sit and plump while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Thinly slice the grapes. Cut the apple into 1/8-inch cubes. Do the same with the Serrano ham. Drain the apricots, and cut each of them into 6 pieces.
- Add the haricots verts to the boiling water and cook until tender but still crisp in the center, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain (do not run under cold water) and transfer to a large bowl – or just add back to the empty and still-warm pot. Sprinkle in the apricots, grapes, apple, ham, chives, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and the olive oil. Toss well using your hands or two large spoons. Taste and add more vinegar and salt as needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
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over 1 year ago loricastlepoole
Delicious! We ate this at Jaleo's last night and I just made your recipe. So yummy! I used fig infused vinegar instead of sherry vinegar, and it was equally delicious. Thanks fo much for sharing.
over 1 year ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
That sounds lovely! Glad you liked it.
almost 2 years ago MaryDD
Thank you to those that replied to my questions last week, I didnt add the hot water to my fresh apricots and the salad turned out great! The flavors together are unexpected but sweet and savory!
almost 2 years ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
Thanks for the report back!
almost 2 years ago Spanishfoodie
Yummy recipe!!! You can buy authentic Jamon Serrano at rapososgourmet.com or through their Amazon Store at the best prices, also excellent customer service 99%!!!
almost 2 years ago EmilyC
"Bewitching" is right. I made this the other night for company, and everyone kept going back for more. Thanks for the recipe!
about 2 years ago lacerise
Made this last week and, though a bit labor-intensive for a week night, we really enjoyed it. I have to say, tho, that it was even better the next day at lunch. The flavors improve over time. I'll be making this again, maybe this time on a weekend - for guests. Thanks for this, Amanda.
about 2 years ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
Didn't know this because we ate it all on the first day -- thanks so much for your note.
about 2 years ago Sam1148
I did this tonight. I had to sub prosciutto ham tho..and used fresh apricots.
WOW..very very, good. It's a keeper.
about 2 years ago arielleclementine
We had this the other day and loved it! Perfectly balanced- loved the sherry-soaked apricots. We had it with a Spanish tortilla- good times :) thanks for the recipe!