Brown Sugar Green Beans (With or Without Bacon)

Crisp-tender green beans tossed with crispy shallots, garlic and a light brown sugar caramel, with crispy bacon if you like. My Caribbean Thanksgiving side.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Caribbean

Keyword bacon brown sugar green beans, brown sugar green beans, brown sugar green beans recipe, green beans with bacon and brown sugar, green beans with brown sugar, how to cook fresh green beans, thanksgiving green beans

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 94kcal

Author Althea Brown

Equipment

Large Pot
Large Skillet

Ingredients

1 lb green beans trimmed
1 tsp coarse kosher salt for the blanching water
4 strips thick-cut bacon chopped small (optional)
2 tbsp neutral oil skip it if using bacon
3 shallots thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic thinly sliced
2 tbsp brown sugar or 1 tbsp for less sweet
coarse kosher salt to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tsp coarse kosher salt. Add the green beans and blanch for 3 minutes, then move them to a bowl of ice water. Drain well.
If using bacon, cook it in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, then remove it and leave the fat in the pan. Without bacon, warm the oil in the skillet over medium heat.
Add the shallots, then the sliced garlic. Cook until the shallots are crisp, about 3 minutes.
Add the brown sugar and stir until it melts into a light caramel, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the green beans and toss for 3 to 5 minutes until coated and hot. Season with salt to taste, stir the bacon back in and serve.

Notes

With bacon: bacon is salty, so taste before adding any salt.
No pork? Use smoked turkey bacon, or skip it. The shallots and caramel carry plenty of flavor.
Make ahead: blanch and chill the green beans up to 2 days ahead, then finish them in the skillet right before serving.
Original rasta green beans: add 1 julienned red and 1 yellow bell pepper with the green beans.

Nutrition