Holiday Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Green beans are delicious, healthy, and beautiful on your table, so why bury them in a fatty casserole? Instead, let them star in recipes like this one that combines mild, nutty flavors from fresh green beans with sweetness from caramelized onions, hearty earthiness of mushrooms, and savory flavors from herbs. It’s elegant enough for your holiday table, but simple enough for everyday healthy eating.

Variations and Serving Suggestions

• Use frozen green beans if fresh ones are unavailable.
• White button, cremini, and baby bella mushrooms are all good choices.
• It’s okay to skip the mushrooms if you don’t have any. Substitute bell pepper strips if desired.
• Turn it into a high-protein entree by cooking 12 ounces of shrimp, ground turkey, or chicken in the skillet before caramelizing the onions. 
• Use up leftover turkey from the holidays by adding 12-16 ounces of cut, cooked turkey to the skillet near the end of cooking.
• For added flavor, serve the green beans with 2 ounces of chopped walnuts, or add 2 ounces of sliced almonds near the end of cooking.
• For a balanced meal, serve the green beans with a turkey or veggie burger on a whole-grain bun, or with whole-grain pasta with parmesan cheese.

Recipe for Pan-Roasted Holiday Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil, divided
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 1 pound of fresh green beans, trimmed
• 8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons of fresh sage leaves, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• (Optional) 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Instructions: 

1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and cook for 20-25 minutes over medium heat, until the onions are golden brown. Add additional olive oil if the onions start to brown. Set aside.
2. While the onions are cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the green beans are tender but still bright green. Drain the green beans and set aside.
3. In the same skillet used for the onions, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until they are soft. Add the garlic and sage and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant.
4. Add the green beans to the skillet with the garlic and sage. Toss to combine. Add the caramel onions and stir gently. Season to taste. 
5. Drizzle with lemon juice if desired just before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 150 calories; 11 grams of fat; 2 grams of saturated fat; 100 mg sodium; 12 grams of carbohydrates; 5 grams of sugars; 4 grams of fiber; 3 grams of protein

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