Contributing Writer: Leslie Cates from The Cozy Little Kitchen
I’m a Kentucky girl. Here in the Bluegrass State we love our green beans! They are especially good fresh from the garden in the summer time. Although these aren’t garden fresh, they were still so deliciously dressed up in neat bundles tied with bacon and slathered in a decadent garlic-butter and brown sugar sauce. The combination of the salty bacon and the brown sugar is really amazing! They’re so good, plan on making more than you think will be eaten! They’re an easy alternative to the more traditional ways like “cooked down” green beans with ham hock like we enjoy in the South. This way they look a little more fancy and everyone can have a couple of delicious bundles to themselves!
I made this side dish with some chicken and rosemary mashed potatoes for Easter, and the bundles seemed to make it a holiday worthy meal! Green bean bundles are delicious and easy to make, so I really hope you’ll give this recipe a try!
Salty & Sweet Green Bean Bundles
Recipe Adapted from Makin’ it Mo’ Betta
1 lb. Green Beans (I used French green beans)
10-12 slices of Bacon
2 Tbsp. Butter
1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
2 cloves Minced Garlic
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and put a baking rack on the top. This way all the excess fat will drip down and your green beans won’t cook in all the fat. Your bacon will crisp better, too.
Wash and dry the green beans well. Season with salt and pepper. Bundle about 6-8 green beans and take a slice of bacon and wrap around the center of the green bean bundle. They don’t have to be perfect! Lay the bundle with the seam side down on the rack. Do this to all the green beans. They can touch in the pan if you make a large batch, but since I only made a few for us two I scattered them out.
In a small sauce pan over low heat, mix the brown sugar, butter, and minced garlic until melted. Stir it all together. Using a pastry brush, brush this butter mixture over all the bundles. If you can any left, just pour over the bundles until they’re saturated and evenly coated. I added a bit more black pepper over the top.
Cover the pan with foil and bake for about 35 minutes. Take the foil off and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. If the bacon is having a hard time, turn on the broiler for a minute at the very end. Unless you use thick cut bacon, you shouldn’t have a problem with this. Plan on everyone having at least 2 bundles.
Enjoy with your favorite food and your favorite people!
