Watching football is all about good beer and great finger food. However as vegetarians, we are somewhat limited in our football food choices. Most people watch football with a side of chicken wings, a burger, a meaty bowl of hot chili, or a pile of loaded nachos. When Kyle and I go out to catch a game, we often find ourselves hovering around the veggie tray, as it is the only option that suits our diet. And let’s face it: celery and carrot sticks are tasty but they don’t exactly pair well with a frosty mug of beer. Or shouting at the television. Or shouting at your friends, for that matter.

When football is at our place, I always make sure we have great food that fits both our diet and the situation: watching sports. Think mean and meaty; taste lean and veggie. I’ve gotten pretty good at it.

This week we used Monday Night Football as an excuse to test a recipe we’ve been dying to try: Green Bean Fries!

We used to love the version served at a popular chain restaurant that we haven’t visited in a very long time. In an attempt to be just a little healthier, I chose to forego the deep fryer and bake them instead.

First I blanched some green beans.

Then I coated them in flour and shook them.

After dipping them in a mixture of egg and milk, I tossed them in a large plastic bag with: bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, and chili powder.

Then I placed them in  single layer on a baking sheet and baked for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

And served with Southwestern ranch dressing.

Now this is a veggie tray that means business.

Add a big burger and it gets real serious.

We had our green bean fries with homemade black bean veggie burgers topped with ricotta-cheddar-stuffed Carmen peppers, fresh tomatoes, and brown mustard on sesame buns.

Full disclosure: these green beans were as dry as my sense of humor at the end of a tough week at the office. We had a few and then gave in and threw them in a saute pan with some hot oil to crisp them up a little. Delicious.

Add one two Hofbrau Oktoberfest beers and. . . Game on!