Mediterranean Green Beans with Leeks and Feta

Ingredients
1 pound Green Beans, washed and trimmed
1 cup - or- 2 Leeks, sliced small use the light green & white parts
4 Garlic cloves, diced small
1 tablespoon unsalted Butter
1/2 teaspoon fresh Lemon juice - from 1/4 Lemon
pinch of Cracked Black Pepper
pinch of Smoked Paprika
pinch of Sea Salt
1-2 ounces of crumbled Feta Cheese (see note above)
Lemon Zest for garnish

Directions:

• Prepare a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Have a colander or large strainer ready in the sink. 
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. 
• Add green beans to pot and blanch (cook) for 1-2 minutes until bright green. 
• Immediately dump beans into colander and then plunge them into the ice water bath. This will set the beans, keep them bright and stop them from cooking further.
• In a large sauté pan melt butter over medium high heat on the stove top. 
• Add leeks & garlic with pinches of the black pepper, salt and smoked paprika. 
• Stir and sautée a few minutes until softened and fragrant. 
• Reduce heat to medium. 
• Add beans and lemon juice to pan and toss to coat. 
• Cook for about 2 more minutes until flavors combine and beans cook a little bit more. 
• Top with feta cheese crumbles and some lemon zest.