Healthy Holiday Sides - Green Beans

 

Green beans seem to be a perennial favorite for the holiday table.  And that's a good thing.  If you are looking for an easy to prepare and healthy green bean recipe, this recipe may be an option.  Before you get too caught up in the healthy part, it does have two slices of bacon.  It serves 6, so that's ⅓ of a slice per person.  It is the holidays and a little bacon during the holidays is okay.

Bacony Green Bean Salad

Serves 6.

Ingredients:

1½ pounds green beans, trimmed
2 slices bacon, diced
⅓ cup minced shallots
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, optional
Juice of one lemon

Directions:

1.  Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.  Add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.  Drain.  Rinse with cold water and drain well.  Pat dry.  (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.  Refrigerate until ready to finish cooking.)

2.  Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp.  Transfer to paper towels.  Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of fat.  Add shallots to skillet and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often.

3.  Add green beans; sprinkle beans with salt.  Stir to coat.  Add olive oil, if desired and lemon juice.  Stir until beans are heated through.  Place in a serving bowl and top with bacon.