Description
Bill Miller’s green bean recipe showcases Southern comfort with a classic side dish. Crisp green beans mingle with bacon and seasonings, creating a hearty accompaniment sure to delight you at any family gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (453 grams) green beans, ends trimmed, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
- 12 ounces (340 grams) cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
Cooking Ingredient:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Fill a medium-sized pot with water, ensuring it’s about three-quarters full, and add a generous pinch of kosher salt to create a flavorful cooking liquid.
- Carefully lower the green beans into the boiling water, allowing them to cook for 6-8 minutes until they reach a tender-crisp texture with a vibrant green color.
- While the beans are blanching, prepare the tomato sauce by warming olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add whole or diced tomatoes to the skillet, gently breaking them down with a wooden spoon as they simmer and develop a rich, concentrated flavor.
- After 8-10 minutes, when the tomatoes have softened and released their juices, introduce minced garlic, a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes to enhance the sauce’s aromatics.
- Drain the green beans thoroughly, then transfer them directly into the bubbling tomato sauce, tossing gently to ensure each bean is completely coated with the fragrant mixture.
- Allow the beans to simmer in the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes, melding the flavors and ensuring the vegetables are heated through completely before serving hot.
Notes
- Leftovers develop deeper, more complex flavors when stored overnight in the refrigerator, making this dish even more delicious the next day.
- Incredibly quick to prepare, this entire recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight cooking.
- Pro chefs recommend using fresh green beans to maximize vibrant color and maintain that delightful crisp texture.
- This versatile side dish pairs beautifully with grilled meats or stands confidently as a standalone vegetable course.
- Red pepper flakes provide a gentle warmth that enhances the tomato sauce without overpowering the delicate green bean flavor.
- Crushing fresh tomatoes releases natural sweetness, creating an authentic, rustic sauce that transforms simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 112 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg