Peixinhos da Horta is a traditional Portuguese appetizer made with fresh green beans coated in a light, seasoned batter and fried until golden and crispy. Simple, flavorful, and easy to make, these Portuguese fried green beans are delicious served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack.
Peixinhos da Horta is one of Portugal’s most traditional ways to prepare green beans. The name means "little fish from the garden," referring to the shape of the battered beans, which resemble small fried fish.
The green beans are briefly cooked, coated in a simple seasoned batter, and fried until crisp and golden. They are delicious served warm as an appetizer or side dish and are a great way to enjoy fresh green beans with plenty of flavor.
If you enjoy traditional Portuguese recipes, try these other favorites: Portuguese Octopus Lagareiro (Polvo à Lagareiro), Portuguese Pork and Clams (Carne de Porco à Alentejana), Portuguese Cod, Potatoes and Eggs (Bacalhau à Brás), and Portuguese Style Baked Fish. These delicious recipes are a great way to enjoy the authentic flavors of Portuguese cuisine from the comfort of your own home.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Crispy and flavorful: The light batter becomes beautifully golden and crisp when fried.
A classic Portuguese recipe: Peixinhos da Horta is a traditional dish from Portuguese cuisine.
Simple ingredients: You only need a few everyday ingredients to prepare this recipe.
Great as an appetizer: Serve these fried green beans as a starter, snack, or side dish.
A delicious way to enjoy green beans: The crispy coating makes vegetables especially appealing.
Easy to prepare: The recipe is straightforward and doesn't require complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients for Peixinhos da Horta (Portuguese Fried Green Beans)
Here you'll find all the ingredients needed to make this recipe:
- Green beans - The main ingredient, providing a fresh, tender texture and mild vegetable flavor.
- All-purpose flour - Forms the base of the batter and helps create a light, crispy coating when fried.
- Eggs - Add richness and help bind the batter together.
- Pepper - Adds a subtle spicy touch and enhances the overall flavor.
- Chopped coriander or parsley - Adds freshness, color, and a pleasant herbal flavor to the batter.
- Salt - Enhances the flavors of the green beans and batter.
- Water - It is used to cook the green beans, helping to make them tender before they are coated in batter.
- Peeled onion - It is added to the cooking water to give the green beans a mild, aromatic flavor.
- Vegetable oil - Used for frying the battered green beans until golden and crispy.
Below you’ll find the correct measurement of all ingredients and the step-by-step guide for this recipe.
How to Make Peixinhos da Horta (Portuguese Fried Green Beans)
Step 1: Wash the green beans, trim the ends, and remove the strings. Cut the green beans in half or, if you prefer, leave them whole.
Step 2: In a saucepan of water, add the green beans, a teaspoon of salt, and the peeled onion. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 3: When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and cook the green beans for about 10 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain well and let them cool completely.
Step 4: In a bowl, add the flour, eggs, pepper, chopped coriander (or chopped parsley), and one teaspoon of salt. Mix everything with a whisk or fork until you obtain a smooth and creamy batter.
Step 5: Dip the green bean pieces into the egg mixture, making sure they are well coated. Repeat the process until all the green beans are coated.
Step 6: Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, add the green beans and fry on both sides until golden and crispy.
Step 7: Place the Peixinhos da Horta on a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil and keep them crispy.
Variations
• Lighter batter: Replace some of the water with sparkling water for a lighter, crispier batter.
• Use different vegetables: The same batter can be used with thin slices of onion, peppers, zucchini or other vegetables.
• Make them extra crispy: Keep the batter relatively light and avoid overcrowding the pan when frying.
• Serve with a dipping sauce: Pair the fried green beans with a simple garlic mayonnaise, lemon mayonnaise, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips for Making Peixinhos da Horta
• Choose fresh green beans: Use firm, fresh beans for the best texture.
• Don't overcook the beans: They should be tender but still slightly firm before being coated in batter.
• Dry the beans well: Excess moisture can make the batter less crispy and cause oil to splatter during frying.
• Keep the oil hot: Properly heated oil helps the batter become crisp and golden instead of greasy.
• Don't overcrowd the pan: Fry the beans in small batches so the temperature of the oil doesn't drop too much.
• Drain after frying: Place the fried beans on paper towels or a wire rack to remove excess oil.
• Serve immediately: Peixinhos da Horta are at their best when served warm and crispy.
FAQs
What are Peixinhos da Horta?
Peixinhos da Horta are a traditional Portuguese dish made with green beans coated in batter and fried until golden and crispy. The name literally means "little fish from the garden."
Are Peixinhos da Horta the same as fried green beans?
Yes. Peixinhos da Horta are essentially Portuguese fried green beans prepared with a light batter and traditionally served as an appetizer or side dish.
What type of beans are used for Peixinhos da Horta?
Fresh green beans are traditionally used. Choose firm, fresh green beans and trim the ends before preparing them.
How do you serve Peixinhos da Horta?
Peixinhos da Horta are best served warm and crispy. They can be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish alongside meat, fish, or other Portuguese dishes.
How Can I Make Peixinhos da Horta Crispier?
Make sure the oil is hot before you start frying, and avoid adding too many green beans to the pan at once. Overcrowding can lower the oil temperature and make the batter less crispy.
Can I Prepare Peixinhos da Horta in Advance?
It’s best to serve them shortly after frying, when they are at their crispiest. If you need to prepare them in advance, you can fry them and briefly reheat them in the oven before serving.
You May Also Like
- Portuguese salt cod fritters (Pataniscas de bacalhau)
- 3-Ingredient mini sausage rolls
- Crispy fried zucchini
- Salt cod fritters (Pastéis de bacalhau)
- Easy tuna fritters
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Peixinhos da Horta (Portuguese Fried Green Beans)
Peixinhos da Horta is a traditional Portuguese appetizer made with fresh green beans coated in a light, seasoned batter and fried until golden and crispy. Simple, flavorful, and easy to make, these Portuguese fried green beans are delicious served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack.
- 200 grams (7 ounces) fresh green beans
- 100 grams (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- A pinch of pepper
- Coriander or parsley (to taste)
- 1 small onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Wash the green beans, trim the ends, and remove the strings. Cut the green beans in half or, if you prefer, leave them whole.
- In a saucepan of water, add the green beans, a teaspoon of salt, and the peeled onion. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and cook the green beans for about 10 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain well and let them cool completely.
- In a bowl, add the flour, eggs, pepper, chopped coriander (or chopped parsley), and one teaspoon of salt. Mix everything with a whisk or fork until you obtain a smooth and creamy batter.
- Dip the green bean pieces into the egg mixture, making sure they are well coated. Repeat the process until all the green beans are coated.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, add the green beans and fry on both sides until golden and crispy.
- Place the Peixinhos da Horta on a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil and keep them crispy.
