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Green Beans with Orange Essence and Toasted Maple Pecans

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 21, 2007

Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 8

Green Beans with Orange Essence and Toasted Maple Pecans

Ingredients

¾ cup pecans (about 1 ¾ ounces), chopped coarse3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons maple syrup table salt 2 medium shallots, minced (about ½ cup)½ teaspoon grated orange zest ⅓ cup orange juice from 1 large orangepinch cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour 1 ½ pounds green beans, stem ends trimmed⅔ cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves Ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Toast pecans in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1-tablespoon butter, maple syrup, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Return skillet to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until nuts are dry and glossy, about 45 seconds; transfer to plate and set aside.
  2. Wipe out skillet. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium heat; when foaming subsides, add shallots, orange zest, and cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in flour until combined, then toss in green beans. Add chicken broth, orange juice, and sage; increase heat to medium-high, cover, and cook until beans are partly tender but still crisp at center, about 4 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and sauce has thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Off heat, adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving dish, sprinkle evenly with pecans, and serve.
Green Beans with Orange Essence and Toasted Maple Pecans

Green Beans with Orange Essence and Toasted Maple Pecans

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 8

Ingredients

¾ cup pecans (about 1 ¾ ounces), chopped coarse
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
table salt
2 medium shallots, minced (about ½ cup)
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
⅓ cup orange juice from 1 large orange
pinch cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ½ pounds green beans, stem ends trimmed
⅔ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

¾ cup pecans (about 1 ¾ ounces), chopped coarse
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
table salt
2 medium shallots, minced (about ½ cup)
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
⅓ cup orange juice from 1 large orange
pinch cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ½ pounds green beans, stem ends trimmed
⅔ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

¾ cup pecans (about 1 ¾ ounces), chopped coarse
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
table salt
2 medium shallots, minced (about ½ cup)
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
⅓ cup orange juice from 1 large orange
pinch cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ½ pounds green beans, stem ends trimmed
⅔ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
Ground black pepper

Why This Recipe Works

To develop a streamlined green bean recipe that would employ just one pot and still yield tender beans and a flavorful sauce, we built the sauce in the pan first and then added the beans and some chicken broth (instead of water) for flavor.

Instructions

  1. Toast pecans in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1-tablespoon butter, maple syrup, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Return skillet to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until nuts are dry and glossy, about 45 seconds; transfer to plate and set aside.
  2. Wipe out skillet. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium heat; when foaming subsides, add shallots, orange zest, and cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in flour until combined, then toss in green beans. Add chicken broth, orange juice, and sage; increase heat to medium-high, cover, and cook until beans are partly tender but still crisp at center, about 4 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and sauce has thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Off heat, adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving dish, sprinkle evenly with pecans, and serve.

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