There must be something to the noteworthy maxim, “Good things come in small packages.” Along with “less is more” and “simplicity is key,” the old adages contribute to the prevailing philosophy of this favorite side dish. These simple green bean bundles wrapped in bacon are one of our most popular side dishes every year. (And that’s saying something since we have 870 side dishes on our website!)
With the holidays fast approaching (and our interest in comfort food at an all time high), heart-warming vegetable side dishes are never far from mind. This easy dish achieves star recipe status in all ways: it’s both salty and sweet, it can be prepared in advance of serving, it contains only 5 ingredients, it’s elegant without being fussy, it includes bacon, and each serving is a specially wrapped parcel just for you.
Green Bean Bundles with Bacon and Brown Sugar
Ingredients:
- 8 thick bacon slices
- 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) (3 oz./90 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 1/2 lb. (750 g) green beans, trimmed and blanched
- 1/4 cup (2 oz./60 g) firmly packed light brown sugar
Directions:
Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
In a large nonstick fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon in batches until the slices are just beginning to brown along the edges but are still very underdone and pliable, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool, then cut each slice in half crosswise.
In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, salt and garlic powder.
Divide the green beans into 16 equal portions, about 6 beans each. Gather each portion into a neat bunch and wrap a half slice of bacon around the center to hold the beans together. Place the bundles on the prepared baking sheet with the loose ends of the bacon underneath. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the bundles and drizzle with the butter mixture.
Roast until the bacon is cooked through and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the green bean bundles to a warmed platter and serve immediately. Serves 8.
Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen