It’s that time again! Holiday banquets and dinners are on the agenda at every turn. If you’re looking for a new recipe to add to your yearly festive feasts, borrow an old favorite from my family for your holiday table, sweet and sour green beans.
The Making of a Tradition
One of the best things about holidays is traditions.
Especially when it comes to cooking and eating.
One example that I hold near and dear to my heart is serving sweet and sour green beans.
For as long as I can remember, this has been one of my youngest daughter’s favorite dishes.
And because of that, sweet and sour green beans are a staple item on our holiday menu.
Sweet and Sour Green Beans are the Bee’s Knees
Did you know that green beans aren’t a vegetable, they’re a fruit.
And one of my favorites.
Along with their delicious earthy and slightly sweet flavor, unique texture and high favorability with my daughter, green beans are also very nutritious.
They contain generous amounts of fiber, protein, and several different vitamins and minerals.
They’re also noted for helping to relieve digestive issues and stomach pains.
All around, they are a food that has a lot to offer, both in desirability and health benefits.
And once seasoned and cooked, everyone at the dinner table is left with happy taste buds and tummies.
Prepare These Sweet and Sour Green Beans in a Snap
Whether you’re an experienced chef or a beginner in the kitchen, my sweet and sour green beans recipe is simple to prepare!
It’s one of the few times I choose to use a canned vegetable (I mean fruit!).
This is a major time saver which is a plus during the sometimes chaotic and time consuming holiday season.
So it’s green beans with a simple sweet and sour sauce made with vinegar, sugar, onions, and bacon.
There is a saying among chefs that bacon makes everything better.
And it’s true.
If that isn’t enough, this delightful dish of sweat and sour green beans is topped off with a mound of cheddar cheese which melts over the top of the warm green beans.
So good.
It’s made an appearance on my Christmas table for years.
Give these sweet and sour green beans a try yourself this holiday season!
Sweet and Sour Green Beans
- Prep Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon, diced
- 2–15 oz. cans green beans, drained
- 1 cup onion, small dice
- 3/4 cup liquid *see notes
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- kosher salt
- pepper
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, brown the bacon. Drain on a paper towel.
- Cook the onion in the bacon fat until translucent.
- Stir in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the sugar.
- Add the apple cider vinegar.
- Simmer for five minutes or so until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the green beans and simmer until the beans are hot.
- Pour the beans into a bowl and top with shredded cheese.
Notes
If you buy no-salt added green beans, use the liquid from the drained green beans. Otherwise use vegetable stock or water.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 119
- Sugar: 6.5 g
- Sodium: 292.1 mg
- Fat: 7.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.9 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0.1 mg
Want to try another green bean recipe? Check out Pistachio Crusted Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce