Garlic Butter Sausages with Lemon Green Beans

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb (450g) sausage (Bratwurst or Italian style)

1 lb (450g) fresh stringless green beans, trimmed

3 tablespoons butter, divided,

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Juice of 1/2 lemon + lemon slices, for garnish

Salt and fresh cracked pepper

1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable or beef stock

1 tablespoon hot sauce, optional (we used Sriracha)

Crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

PREPARATION:

1. Arrange green beans in a microwave-safe dish with 1/2 cup (125ml) water. Cook covered in the microwave for 8-10 minutes, until almost done but still crisp.

2. In the meantime, lay the sausages in a skillet with 1/2 cup water. Cook half covered for 10 minutes on medium heat, turning regularly. When water has evaporated, add 2 tablespoons butter, half the garlic, and red chili pepper flakes and continue cooking for a couple of minutes, until sausages have browned in the garlic butter sauce. Transfer sausages to a plate and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, lower the heat and melt the remaining tablespoon butter. Add chopped parsley, thyme, remaining garlic, Italian seasoning, red crushed chili pepper flakes, and pre-cooked green beans and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until cooked to your liking. Deglaze with lemon juice, vegetable or beef stock, hot sauce, and reduce the sauce for a couple of minutes.

4. Add garlic butter sausages back to the pan and reheat quickly. Adjust seasoning with pepper and serve immediately, garnished with more crushed chili pepper, fresh herbs, and a slice of lemon if you like. Enjoy!

Note: You can enrich the flavors of the dish by adding a little white wine to the sauce for the green beans.