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Dijon Maple Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans, Bacon, and Feta

These tender-crisp green beans with a sweet and tangy Dijon maple sauce, topped with caramelized pecans, crispy bacon, and feta crumbles will be the side dish that everyone is talking about this holiday season.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Side Dish
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 6-8 slices bacon
  • 1 1/2 lbs fresh green beans trimmed
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • dash of red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup Feta cheese or to taste

Caramelized Pecans

  • 1 cup pecan halves or pieces
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Dijon Maple Sauce

  • 1 tsp pure maple syrup
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper

Instructions

Start off with the bacon

  • Cut bacon into one-inch pieces and cook in a skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until browned and crisp. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and set aside. Remove grease and wipe out the skillet for later use.

For the caramelized pecans

  • Heat a small non-stick skillet over medium heat and add the pecans, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Stir constantly with a heat-proof spoon or spatula for approximately 5 minutes (less time if your nuts are chopped smaller) until the pecans are evenly coated in the melted sugar and butter.
  • Transfer pecans to parchment or wax paper and spread out right away, or wait until they harden and cool, and then break them apart.  Cooling should take approximately 5-7 minutes. 

For the green beans

  • Blanch green beans in a large stock pot of salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Using the skillet from the bacon, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for 1 minute. Add beans and Dijon Maple Sauce and continue to saute until beans are evenly coated in the sauce and beans and cooked to desired crisp-tenderness.
  • Taste and season with additional red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Put green beans into a large bowl and top with caramelized pecans, bacon, and feta cheese before serving!

For the Dijon Maple Sauce

  • While the green beans are cooking, combine all of the Dijon Maple Sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, and set aside until ready to use.
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