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Sautéed green beans cooked in balsamic vinegar on a white plate.

Balsamic Green Beans

Healthy, delicious and made with pantry staple ingredients, these balsamic green beans are ready to serve in just 15 minutes!
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 64kcal
Author: Betty Davies

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces fresh green beans (170g)
  • 1 teaspoon oil (canola, avocado, vegetable etc)
  • 1 large garlic clove (finely diced or minced)
  • 1 tablepsoon salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  • Wash the green beans and trim off the ends, place to one side.
  • Fill a medium pan with water, sprinkle in a little salt, and place on a high heat on the stovetop and bring to a boil.
  • Fill a large bowl with cold water and add in some ice cubes.
  • Once the water in the pot is boiling, add in the trimmed beans. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes til fork tender, but still with a bite.
  • Drain the beans and place them immediately in the bowl of iced water. Leave to one side.
  • Place a skillet on a medium heat on the stovetop and add in the oil. Once hot, add in the diced garlic. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally til softened.
  • Add the butter and balsamic to the skillet. Allow the melted mixture to simmer for a minute, but don't let it fully reduce.
  • Add the cooked green beans to the skillet and toss in the balsamic sauce.
  • Serve the green beans, and spoon over some of the balsamic and garlic from the skillet.

Notes

  • Cut the ends off of the green beans before cooking them, as these can have a woody stringy texture.
  • Take care not to overcook the beans or they will become ushy, they only need a few minutes in the boiling water. The should be a vibrant green color and have a slight bite to them.
  • Have a bowl of iced water ready so that you can stop the cooking process quickly.
  • Don't be tempted to add more balsamic vinegar to the beans or the flavor will be too overpowering.

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 599IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg