Name: Skillet Green Beans with Walnuts
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 2/3 cup chopped walnuts; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger; Pinch cayenne pepper; Salt and pepper; 2 pounds green beans, stem ends trimmed; 1/4 cup water

Why This Recipe Works

Sautéing the beans in butter developed a toasty flavor for our Skillet Green Beans with Walnuts, and a short steam ensured a crisp texture. Adding cinnamon made the dish taste like dessert. We nixed the spice in favor of brown sugar and ginger to spruce up the flavor. Cayenne and black pepper added a layer of lingering heat to our Skillet Green Beans with Walnuts.

Instructions

TOAST NUTS Toast walnuts in large skillet over medium-low heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons butter and cook, stirring constantly, until butter is nutty brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in sugar, ginger, cayenne, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer walnut mixture to bowl and reserve. Wipe out skillet.

COOK BEANS Melt remaining butter in empty skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beans, stirring occasionally, until spotty brown, about 8 minutes. Add water and cook, covered, over medium-low heat until beans are nearly tender, about 3 minutes. Remove lid and cook until liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Off heat, add reserved walnut mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.