America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Nutty Green Beans

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 28, 2011

Yield

Serves 4

Nutty Green Beans

Ingredients

½ cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar Table salt ½ medium red onion, sliced thin½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped1 pound green beans, ends snapped off2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon Ground black pepper

Before You Begin

Marinating the onions in the hot vinaigrette mellows their flavor. These beans pair nicely with our Turkey Cutlets with Cherry Sauce.

Instructions

  1. Bring vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boil in small saucepan over high heat. Add onion and return mixture to boil. Immediately remove pan from heat and transfer mixture to small bowl to cool.
  2. Toast walnuts in small skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate.
  3. Meanwhile, bring 2 1/2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add beans and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain beans and transfer to large serving bowl. Strain onions through sieve and discard liquid. Add onions, walnuts, oil, and tarragon to bowl with beans and toss well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Nutty Green Beans

Nutty Green Beans

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

½ cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
Table salt
½ medium red onion, sliced thin
½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 pound green beans, ends snapped off
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

½ cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
Table salt
½ medium red onion, sliced thin
½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 pound green beans, ends snapped off
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

½ cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
Table salt
½ medium red onion, sliced thin
½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 pound green beans, ends snapped off
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
Ground black pepper

Why This Recipe Works

We started our recipe for Nutty Green Beans by blanching the green beans in salted, boiling water until tender. The salt in the cooking liquid flavored the beans through to the center, and also helped keep the green beans bright green. We added quick-pickled red onion slices for vibrant color and a bright flavor. A short dunk in a boiling mixture of red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt mellowed the sharpness of the onion slices and softened their crunchy texture. We added toasted walnuts for a crunchy, slightly bitter accent, and fresh tarragon for a classic French touch.

Before You Begin

Marinating the onions in the hot vinaigrette mellows their flavor. These beans pair nicely with our Turkey Cutlets with Cherry Sauce.

Instructions

  1. Bring vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boil in small saucepan over high heat. Add onion and return mixture to boil. Immediately remove pan from heat and transfer mixture to small bowl to cool.
  2. Toast walnuts in small skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate.
  3. Meanwhile, bring 2 1/2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add beans and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain beans and transfer to large serving bowl. Strain onions through sieve and discard liquid. Add onions, walnuts, oil, and tarragon to bowl with beans and toss well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.