Fresh Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

I love summer!  And summer gardens!

I didn’t grow any green beans this year, but a good friend of mine did.  And when she had way too many, I came home with a big bag of beans!

I almost made green bean casserole (I love it so much, I can hardly stand that it is a holiday dish!), but I didn’t want to make something quite that rich.

So I decided to make some simple sautéed beans with the onions I love from green bean casserole.  Plus some bacon.  Because bacon always makes everything better.  It was a delicious way to enjoy some garden abundance!

Fresh Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

1 white onion, sliced thin

1 tbsp butter

3 slices thick cut bacon

1 lb fresh green beans, ends trimmed, large beans snapped

Salt & pepper

½ tsp white wine vinegar

¼ cup French fried onions

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.  Add the onions and cook on low until caramelized to a deep amber color, about 20 minutes.  Set aside.

Cook the bacon until crisp.  Set aside and crumble.  Reserve bacon drippings in the pan.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add the green beans and boil for 4 minutes.  Drain the beans and add to the pan with the bacon drippings.  Cook the beans for another 2 minutes. 

Stir in the caramelized onions.  Season with salt and pepper and a dash of white wine vinegar.  Sprinkle with French onions and serve.

Serves 6-8 side dish servings.