Description
This Southern Green Beans recipe offers a flavorful and wholesome side dish featuring fresh green beans simmered with smoked turkey bacon and natural seasonings. It delivers authentic Southern taste with a simple, healthy, and versatile method that works well for weeknight dinners or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
- 4 ounces smoked turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon natural gelling agent dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the green beans: Wash and trim the ends of the green beans, ensuring they are clean and ready for cooking. This helps achieve evenly cooked, crisp-tender beans.
- Cook the smoked turkey bacon: In a large skillet, lightly cook the chopped smoked turkey bacon over medium heat until it crisps up, releasing smoky oils that will flavor the dish. Remove bacon pieces and set aside, keeping the rendered fat in the pan.
- Sauté onions and garlic: Add diced yellow onion to the skillet with bacon fat and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant to build a flavorful base.
- Simmer the green beans: Add the green beans, vegetable broth, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover and simmer on low heat until the beans are tender but still have a slight bite, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Finish with natural gelling agent and bacon: Stir in the natural gelling agent dissolved in water to slightly thicken the cooking liquid, coating the green beans in a silky glaze. Return the cooked smoked turkey bacon to the pan and gently mix everything together.
Notes
- Use fresh beans for the sweetest and firmest texture.
- Do not overcook to maintain crisp-tender beans.
- Adjust seasoning at the end to avoid over-seasoning.
- Cook bacon carefully to keep a pleasant smoky flavor without burning.
- A small amount of natural gelling agent adds a nice coating without weighing down the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: Southern green beans, smoked turkey bacon, side dish, healthy side, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, low sodium, spicy green beans, plant-based
