Making a flavored butter is not only incredibly easy but it’s a perfect way to joosh up any recipe from steamed green beans & roasted squash to grilled steak & roast chicken. Blue cheese, walnut & fresh thyme are mixed with softened butter then rolled into a log & chilled. When you need the butter you simple slice it from the log. It’s that simple.
Of course this green bean recipe is going to be absolutely wonderful as part of festive menu. Speaking of festive…I’m sorry I’m talking holiday season already. Although Christmas has been in the stores here in American since before Halloween. Each year Christmas seems to arrive earlier than the previous year. Of course we’ve just had Thanksgiving. I’m a little bah-humbug on the whole thing but I’m working on finding the spirit. Maybe some weekend eggnog might be in order.
If you’re looking for a really delicious side dish, festive or not, you can’t go wrong with this recipe & infinitely better (in my humble opinion), than the obligatory green bean casserole.
A PIC TO SHARE ON PINTEREST

- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3 oz (85g) creamy blue cheese, softened, plus a little extra for garnish
- 1/4 cup shelled walnuts, toasted & chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, plus extra for garnish
- freshly ground pepper
- 1 lb (453g) green beans
- pinch of salt
- Mash softened butter & 3 oz blue cheese together in a small bowl using a fork until well combined. Add 1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped thyme & freshly ground pepper. Stir until well combined. Scrape mixture onto a piece of parchment paper & use the parchment paper to roll & shape into a small log, about 5 to 6 inches (12 – 15cm) long. Place in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours or until hard. You can also pop it into the freezer for quick results.
- Place beans in large, shallow pan (I use a deep frying pan with a lid). Add about 1 inch (2.5cm) of water with a pinch of salt to pan; cover. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Shake pan gently to ensure all beans cook evenly. Cook for about 4 minutes or until beans are tender but still a little firm. Drain water from pan but leave beans in same pan.
- Cut blue cheese butter log into thick slices & add half to pan. Toss beans until the blue cheese butter slices are melted. Place on serving platter & top with more slices or freeze for another use. Top with extra blue cheese, extra walnuts & extra thyme.