Fagiolini alla fiorentina [Florentine string beans]

Ingredients

gr 600 string beans (washed, topped and tailed)
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
2 large ripe tomatoes, skinned, seeded and diced
salt and pepper

Method

Wash the beans, cot off the tops and tails and boil them in salted water until they are tender but still crisp. Heat the oil in a pan over a moderate fire and sauté the garlic and onion until golden (approx. 3-4 minutes should suffice). Add the fennel seeds, tomato, salt to taste and simmer for 3-4 minutes before adding the beans. Season with pepper and mix thoroughly, cover the pan and cook for about 12 more minutes. If the mixture dries out too much, add a little water to moisten. Serve hot.