Green Beans with Caramelized Red Onions
November 30, 2009 by Andrea 
Print This Post
Filed under Vegetables
My grandmothers always made a big pot of Southern style green beans with a Virginia ham bone in it when we came to visit, and I would eat multiple helpings of those flavorful beans. The ham bone lent a smoky flavor to the beans that stuck in my memory and remains to this day. You could find them on the table amongst the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and biscuits.
These vegan green beans, while not my grandmother’s, are full of flavor with caramelized red onions and a light balsamic vinegar sauce. The recipe comes from one of my go-to healthy foods cookbooks, The Essential Eating Well Cookbook from the editors of EatingWell magazine. If balsamic vinegar isn’t your thing, you can use red wine vinegar or a dry red wine instead.
GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED RED ONIONS
Adapted from The Essential Eating Well Cookbook. (review)
Makes 8 servings.
Equipment
5 to 6-quart pot with lid
12-inch skillet with lid
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 medium red onions (about 1-3/4 pounds/794 g), each cut into 16 wedges
16 ounces (454 g) green beans, trimmed
1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable stock
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar or dry red wine)
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
sea salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
1.In the skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat and add the onions. Cook until caramelized around the edges, about 20 minutes.
2. While the onions cook, bring water to boil in the large pot. Add a bit of salt and the green beans. Cook uncovered until crisp-tender, about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain.
3. Add the broth to the onions and stir, cooking for about 5 more minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper, and stir.
4. Add the green beans to the skillet and cover. Cook for about 2 minutes. Serve warm.
More Easy and Healthy Recipes
More Green Bean Recipes From Around the Blogs
Kalyn’s Kitchen – Garlic-Roasted Green Beans with Shallots and Almonds
Simply Recipes – Roasted Green Beans with Onions and Walnuts
A Veggie Venture – Slooow Country Green Beans
Karina’s Kitchen – Pomegranate Glazed Green Beans and Portobellos
I cannot overstate how much I LOVE caramelized onions. This looks like a delicious and healthy recipe I’d love to try.
This sounds like a wonderful side dish! I agree with the previous commenter, I love caramelized onions!
I love the beans with the ham especially smoked hocks or a slab of bacon. Definitely in for some red onion love. Nicely done!