Name: Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 onions, halved and thinly sliced; 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar; 3/4 cup water; 2 pounds green beans, trimmed; Salt and pepper; 8 slices crumbled cooked bacon

Why This Recipe Works

Tender, lightly browned, sautéed green beans can be difficult to produce. Either the beans are army green and limp or they have the crisp, bright look and texture of crudités. We took a three-step approach: first, we browned the beans in melted butter to season them and encourage coloring; next, we steamed them in a small amount of water, covered, to ensure they were tender; and, finally, we removed the cover to allow any excess moisture to evaporate.

Instructions

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water and cook until golden brown and sticky, about 5 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl and wipe out skillet with paper towels.

Melt the rest of the butter in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat and add beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are spotty brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top cooked beans with caramelized onions and bacon. Serve.