Today I will leave you with a very simple side dish. Fresh green beans are briefly cooked with the pecans, the jeweled dried cranberries and some citrus zest.
I am not too fond of bean casseroles, as popular as they might be for a side, esp. during this holiday season. This recipe is just a quick sautee with nice flavors. I love the sesame oil and that is what I have used here. Olive oil works well too, and will result in milder flavors. We loved the plumped sweet and tart cranberries. It was a nice blend of taste – spicy from the pepper flakes which was mellowed with the cranberries. We loved the onions and the crunch of the nuts. Overall it is a very easy to make but a perfect holiday dish!
Green Beans with Pecans and Cranberries
Ingredients:
- 1 lb beans, ends trimmed
- 1 tablespoon Asian black Sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
- 1 small onion, cut into thick wedges
- 1/2 cup pecans, lightly toasted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries – use the sweetened kind if you want
- 1/2 tablespoon citrus zest, orange or lemon whatever you prefer
- salt
- red chili flakes
Preparation:Add oil to a pan. Add the garlic slices and allow the oil to heat up with the garlic. When the oil is shimmering hot, increase the heat and add the sesame seeds and onion wedges and the beans. Toss them for the oil to coat. Add the salt and the chili flakes. Cook until the beans are cooked through. (if you like them cooked but crisp, you will have to cook them for lesser time).
Once the beans are almost cooked, add the cranberries, toss and cover the pan at low heat for about 3 minutes. The moisture will plump the cranberries. Uncover, increase the heat and add the toasted nuts and the zest. Cook for a minute at high heat while tossing and switch off the heat.
Adjust salt and pepper/red chili flakes.
Server warm as a side or salad.
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Wonderful side dish. I love nuts an fruit in salads.
Looks great Soma. I can munch on these so willingly, just because they look gorgeous.
What a delicious looking side diah to serve on Thanksgiving. Very healthy too!
Very original! That is one wonderful side dish.
Cheers,
Rosa
I loveeee green beans!! This is such a lovely recipe!
Wonderful combination Soma! My next to try recipe from your blog..bookmarked!
Looks so lively and healthy, Soma. Love the beautiful veggies in it.
Very interesting dish, excellent combination..
im assuming the crans were a brilliant addition to the green beans…should try it out sometime.
This is a very nice variation to the regular green bean casserole.
Sometimes the simple side dishes are the best – and this looks like one of those times. I love the inclusion of the cranberries in it; this looks absolutely fantastic!
Soma I would love to have beans cooked this way rather then the bean casserole……& for me this side dish can serve as a full meal only give me a big serving…haha.., will try to add cranberries next time…
Nice balance of sweet, nutty flavors working into the green beans 🙂
Wonderful combination !!
This would be beautiful for Thanksgiving! I love that it’s a much healthier green bean dish than the traditional casserole with fried onions.
Great combination Soma! I’m sure cranberries and the taste of sesame oil will add so much the green beans. Definitely gonna try this one as a side dish this thanksgiving!
Thanks for sharing!
I would love to make this side dish for our Thanksgiving Dinner! Love the flavors & colors in the dish! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! xo
Oh yes! That is going on our holiday menu!
This would be a perfect side dish for the season!
Soma, the green beans with cranberries look great…love the idea of some sweet to the dish, and looks pretty too 🙂
That looks like a great Thanksgiving side dish!!! Delicious!
what a delicious blog! here is so many uncanny inspirations!
have a nice time,
Paula
Wow wonderful combination.. beans with cranberry.. sure I am gonna try this. The pictures are so beautiful.
[…] Green Beans With Citrus Pecans […]
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