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Beyond the Casserole: 3 Creative Green Bean Recipes

Photo by 4kodiak / Getty Images
Photo by 4kodiak / Getty Images

There is no way we’d ever knock a fried-onion-topped green bean casserole baked with love (and a can of cream of mushroom soup). After all, Thanksgiving and this signature American dish is but a once-a-year event.

But green beans are also one of the first vegetables children will warm up to—and cooking them in a variety of ways will help them, in turn, warm up to new dishes and new flavors. (Plus, snapping off the stem ends is a great project for little hands.)

Here, we share three kid-approved recipes for getting some more green on to the dinner plate, from a 10-minute side dish to a crowd-pleasing substitution for French fries that will leave them begging for a second helping.

1. Quick and Easy: Green beans with slivered almonds and orange juice

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound green beans, with the ends trimmed (you can cut them in half if they’re very long)
  • 2 tablespoons sliced or slivered almonds
  • 2 tablespoons butter or oil, divided
  • 1/2 orange, juiced (or about ¼ cup of orange juice)
  • Salt and pepper

Directions:

In a small skillet, melt one tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add almonds and cook until lightly toasted and brown, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Set aside. Add a ½ inch of water to a medium saucepan. When the water is boiling, add the green beans and put a lid on the pan. Cook the green beans for 5 minutes, or until they are tender but still crisp and green. Drain the beans and toss with remaining tablespoon of butter, orange juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with almonds.


2. Take it Up a Notch: Cheesy Baked Green Bean “Fries”

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound green beans, with the ends trimmed
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated (or any hard cheese)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place a sheet of tin foil inside a baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine cheese, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange green beans on the baking sheet, making sure they are in one layer and not stacked on top of each other. Sprinkle cheese and seasoning blend evenly over the beans. Once the oven is preheated, place the baking sheet in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes, until cheese is golden brown and green beans are crispy.


3. Go for the Gourmet Gold: Stir-fried Ginger, Sesame, and Honey Green Beans with Ground Turkey

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 small bunch green onions, sliced thinly
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 pound green beans, with the ends trimmed

Directions:

Heat sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add sliced green onions and garlic and stir for about two minutes. Add ground turkey and cook for 5 minutes, until meat is mostly cooked. Stir in honey, ginger, and soy sauce. Add green beans and cook an additional 7 minutes until turkey and green beans are cooked. Add rice vinegar. Serve over rice for a full meal!



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