This Pan Fried Green Beans with Bacon (Pancetta) is a fast and easy side dish recipe. Made with only four ingredients but packed with amazing flavour. This is the perfect side dish for a casual family dinner or a get together with friends.
Now is the time to find the perfect green beans. Whether you are shopping in the grocery store or your favourite farmer’s market. Once again Italy opened my eyes to how amazing and delicious Green Beans really are.
How to make it
Boil the cleaned (trimmed and rinsed) beans in boiling water until tender.
While the beans are boiling, in a medium/large frying pan add the oil, the bacon (pancetta), chopped shallot and garlic and cook until golden and almost crispy or crispy if you prefer.
Then add the cooked beans, toss and cook for about one minute. Serve immediately.
Are green beans good for you?
Young and tender green beans are a good source of vitamin C, dietary fibre, folate, vitamin K and silicon, these are needed for healthy bones, skin and hair). They also make the perfect low cal food, and are delicious eaten raw.
The best way to cook green beans
I prefer to cook them the way my mother-in-law did, in a big pot of boiling water, if you prefer you can also steam them, place the steamer basket in a large saucepan and fill it with water just below the steamer. Bring it to a boil. Add the beans, and cook to your desired degree of tenderness, about 8-10 minutes.
Of course you can also eat them raw, just make sure to trim and clean them first.
How to choose the Perfect Green Beans
Look for fresh, green beans that are firm. They should snap when you bend them in half. Before eating or cooking you will have to trim the ends (a sharp knife, kitchen scissors or even snapping them off with your fingers works) if you want you can also tear away the fibrous strip along the bean (I never do that) you can also cut them shorter if you prefer.
Bacon or Pancetta?
Pancetta is a cured meat that is done with salt and sometimes spices are added. Bacon on the other hand is also cured, but it also smoked after it has been cured. For that reason if you can find pancetta then that is the better choice, although if no pancetta is found then yes bacon is a good substitute.
How to store it
The beans should be refrigerated in an airtight container, if properly stored the cooked green beans will last for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Pan-Fried Green Beans with Bacon (Prancetta)
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans (400 grams)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4-1/2 cup chopped pancetta or bacon (50-100 grams)
- 1 small shallot minced
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the beans in boiling water until tender, about 10 minutes.
- While the beans are boiling, in a medium/large frying pan add the oil, the bacon (pancetta), chopped shallot and garlic, cook until golden (3-5 minutes) on medium/high heat, stirring often (so it doesn't burn) until almost crispy or crispy if you prefer.
- Then add the cooked drained beans, sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss and cook for about one minute. Serve immediately.
Kim Billhimer says
I have had this many times sometimes i eat without meat .
Rosemary says
Hi Kim thanks so much glad you enjoy it. Yes I sometimes make it without meat also. Happy New Year.
Joanne says
Hello!….This looks so delicious, and I can’t wait to make it, however the recipe doesn’t state the amount of pancetta to use. Thanks.
Rosemary says
Hi Joanne, sorry about that, I corrected the recipe. It should be 1/4-1/2 a cup (depending how much you like). Thanks