Bittman Basics

A Quick Bean Dish That Hits the Right Notes

‘Quick’ and ‘beans’ don’t always go together, but they do here

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Here’s a fast, saucy dish that’s just as good warm or at room temperature as hot. This is good with edamame, but if you’re not a lima bean person, this could win you over. Also — there’s that bread again, anchoring the dish to soak up the flavors. Call this a glorified bean toast, if you’d like.

Quick Skillet Beans with Tomatoes

Time: About 30 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1½ cups chopped tomatoes (canned are fine; don’t bother to drain)
• 2 cups frozen shelled lima beans or edamame (no need to thaw)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Put the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, 3 to 5…