Skillet Green Beans with Spiced Walnuts

I love this recipe. This was made for dinner the other night and I think it out-shinned the main course…which now that I think about it, I’m not exactly sure what the main course was!

There’s just the right amount of heat and sugar in this recipe, and the toasted walnuts add a nice, deep flavor. Yummy, delicious, and healthy!

Skillet Green Beans with Spiced Walnuts

Ingredients:

¼ C walnuts, chopped coarse

1 T unsalted butter

1 t brown sugar

¼ t ground ginger

Pinch cayenne pepper

Salt & pepper

2 t olive oil

1 pound green beans, trimmed

¼ C water

Directions:

Toast the walnuts in a 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and cook, stirring constantly, until the butter is browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar, ginger, cayenne, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer the walnut mixture to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet with paper towels.

Heat the oil in the skillet over medium heat until just smoking. Add the green beans and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until spotty brown, 4-6 minutes.

Add the water, cover, and cook until the green beans are bright green but still crisp, 2-3 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to high, and continue to cook until the water evaporates and the beans are crisp-tender and lightly browned, 3-5 minutes longer.

Off the heat, stir in the reserved walnut mixture. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve.

Source: America's Test Kitchen Light & Healthy 2011: The Year's Best Recipes Lightened Up