We’re one week into November, and mother nature has certainly reminded us that it is no longer summer. Temperatures have dropped here in Virginia and I’m not too upset about it – I’m ready for sweaters and scarves and boots! I’m also super excited for Thanksgiving :) And as promised, I’m bringing you another idea for your Thanksgiving menu: Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots! Every holiday table needs a good veggie side dish; and although this one is super simple and requires only 5 ingredients (plus salt & pepper) this ain’t your usual green bean side! The bacon adds an unmistakeable smokiness to the dish and the apple cider vinegar is the secret ingredient! It cuts the taste of the fatty bacon, giving it a perfectly balanced flavor. Oh, and did I mention the shallots and green beans are cooked in bacon grease? Maybe that’s why it’s so darn delicious…..
Ingredients
How to make it
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling add the green beans, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove the green beans from the boiling water (using a strainer or tongs) and put into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. The beans should be bright green. Remove the beans from the ice water and set aside.
Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat and cook the chopped bacon until crispy (around 8-10 min). Put the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
Remove most of the bacon grease from the saute pan, leaving around 2 Tablespoons (enough to coat the bottom of the pan). Put the pan over medium low heat, then add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring and cooking for 3-4 minutes, until they start to caramelize.
Add the green beans, raise heat to medium high. Add the salt, pepper, and apple cider vinegar. Stir everything together, cooking for 3-4 minutes.
Put the green beans into a serving dish. Sprinkle the bacon on top, stir together, and serve immediately.
You can make this a few hours ahead of time, but reserve the bacon. When you’re ready to serve, heat the green bean mix, then top with the bacon.
- 24 ounces green beans, washed and ends trimmed
- 10 ounces bacon, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons bacon grease, reserved from cooking the bacon
- 1 cup shallots (2-3 large bulbs), thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling add the green beans, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the green beans from the boiling water and put into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Remove the beans from the ice water and set aside.
- Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat and cook the chopped bacon until crispy (around 8-10 min). Put the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
- Remove most of the bacon grease from the saute pan, leaving around 2 Tablespoons of grease (enough to coat the bottom of the pan).
- Put the pan over medium low heat, then add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring and cooking for 3-4 minutes, until they start to caramelize.
- Add the green beans, raise heat to medium high. Add the salt, pepper, and apple cider vinegar. Stir everything together, cooking for 3-4 minutes.
- Put the green beans into a serving dish. Sprinkle the bacon on top, stir together, and serve immediately.
- Tip: You can make this a few hours ahead of time, but reserve the crispy bacon. When ready to serve, heat the green bean and shallot mixture, then top with the bacon.