Balsamic Green Beans with Crispy Bread Crumbs

5 from 1 vote

Balsamic Green Beans with Crispy Bread Crumbs

Turn a side dish into the star of the plate with these Balsamic Green Beans with Crispy Bread Crumbs. A little tangy, a little salty, a little sweet – these green beans are fancy enough for the holiday table. Ready in under 20 minutes, they’ll fit perfectly in your weekday menu, too.

There’s so much to love about this recipe. This is one you’ll want to keep in your back pocket!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 186kcal

Author: Christy Faber

Ingredients

Crispy Bread Crumbs

2 tablespoon almonds finely chopped
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
3 tablespoon panko bread crumbs
⅛ tsp nutmeg
pinch of salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Green Beans

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb green beans
one small clove garlic minced
2 tbsp water
3 tsp balsamic vinegar
pinch of salt and pepper

Topping

drizzle balsamic reduction optional

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the finely chopped almonds, grated parmesan, panko bread crumbs, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
2 tablespoon almonds, ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan, 3 tablespoon panko bread crumbs, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, pinch of salt
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the bread crumb mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until the bread crumbs are golden brown, crunchy, and fragrant (about 3-5 minutes).
1 tablespoon olive oil
Remove from the heat and transfer the bread crumbs to a plate. Set aside.
Trim the tips of the green beans and set aside. In a frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the green beans and cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for an additional 30 seconds. (Careful not to let the garlic burn)
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 lb green beans, one small clove garlic
Pour in 2 tablespoon of water and cover the pan with a lid. Steam the green beans for 2 minutes on medium heat.
2 tablespoon water
Remove the lid and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, pinch of salt and pepper
Transfer the cooked green beans to a serving plate while pouring any balsamic vinegar still in the pan over them. Top with the crispy bread crumb mixture and shaved parmesan and drizzle with balsamic reduction if desired. Enjoy!
drizzle balsamic reduction

Notes

- Taste to check doneness and seasoning – Just before serving, taste a green bean to make sure it's cooked to your preferred level of tenderness and has enough salt and vinegar. A quick taste test is the best way to get it just right.

- Make the bread crumb topping ahead to save time– Toast the bread crumb mixture a day in advance and store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Re-crisp in a dry skillet for a minute or two before serving, if needed.

- Trim the ends first – The stem ends are tough and not good to eat, so be sure to cut them off before cooking.

- Make extra bread crumbs – Consider doubling or tripling the bread crumb mixture to have extra on hand. It's a great topping for salads, soups, roasted vegetables, or even pasta dishes.

Nutrition