Are you tired of boring, bland vegetable sides that nobody wants to eat? Get ready to revolutionize your dinner table with these mouthwatering Green Beans with Warm Bacon Dressing! This irresistible recipe transforms ordinary green beans into a culinary masterpiece that combines crisp, fresh vegetables with the irresistible smoky richness of bacon. In just 25 minutes, you'll create a side dish so delicious, it might just steal the spotlight from the main course!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans, trimmed
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the green beans by washing them thoroughly and trimming off the tough stem ends. Cut the beans into roughly equal lengths for even cooking.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt to the water to enhance the beans' flavor.
- Add the trimmed green beans to the boiling water and blanch for 3-4 minutes until they are bright green and crisp-tender. Be careful not to overcook.
- While the beans are blanching, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
- Once the beans are cooked, immediately drain them and transfer to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it becomes crisp and renders its fat, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add the finely chopped red onion to the bacon fat and sauté for 2-3 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Drain the green beans from the ice bath and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Add the green beans to the skillet with the warm bacon dressing, tossing to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon pieces over the beans.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately while the dressing is still warm.
Tips
- Choose fresh, crisp green beans and trim them carefully for the best texture and presentation.
- Don't skip the ice bath! This technique ensures your beans stay bright green and perfectly crisp-tender.
- Use thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and a satisfying crunch.
- Be careful not to overcook the beans - they should remain vibrant and have a slight bite.
- Serve immediately while the bacon dressing is still warm for the best flavor and texture.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or some minced garlic to the bacon dressing.
- If you want to make this dish ahead of time, cook the beans and bacon separately and combine just before serving to maintain maximum crispness.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 120kcal
Carbohydrates: 6g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 15mg
