Great Green Beans with Bacon and Sugared Pecans

November 22, 2011

Green beans with bacon and sugared pecans is a delicious departure from your standard green bean casserole This is a quick and easy side dish that can be prepared in just a couple of minutes (plus, who really can say no to bacon). I love this dish on Thanksgiving with a slice of succulent roasted turkey and silky mashed potatoes.

Green Beans with Bacon and Sugared Pecans

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed

6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

1/4 cup chopped candied pecans

salt and pepper

Directions:

Emulsify maple syrup, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic in a food processor or blender, and set aside.

Blanch green beans by boiling them for 3-5 minutes until crisp. Drain the beans immediately and transfer them to a large bowl of ice water. Wait three minutes and drain. Allow the green beans to air dry or by patting them with a paper towel.

Toss the beans in the dressing and top them off with the crumbled bacon and pecans. Season lightly with salt and pepper.