Runner beans
Phaseolus coccineus
Similar veggies:
Mangetout, green beans
A quick introduction
Runner beans resemble mangetout in the sense that their pods are bright green and flat. However, runner beans are longer and thicker. They should not be eaten raw.
Storage
Runner beans will keep fine for a few days in a paper bag in the fridge
Season
Summer to fall
Suggestions for preparation
Before cooking, you can clean the runner beans by chopping off the top, tail and removing the middle thread if present and thick (often not necessary). Runner beans can be chopped, sliced or left whole before cooking, which usually involves a quick blanching, steaming, sautéing or boiling. Runner beans work very well in curries, stir-fries and salads. A simple way to turn runner beans into a delicious side dish is sautéing them with oil and garlic or onions and adding fresh or canned tomatoes. Cover the beans with some water and allow to cook with the lid on for around 15 minutes, or until the runner are tender.
Recipes
Use your summer and fall veggies in this Minestrone soup
See this link for two nice runner beans recipes, one for an Indian curry and one for Italian olive oil braised beans