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Charred Green Beans With Brown Butter Vinaigrette

5.0

(2)

Platter of Charred Green Beans With Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Photograph by Chris Simpson, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker

Green beans step out of their usual—dare we say boring?—holiday casserole format in this flavor-packed stir-fry. The beans are charred until smoky and crisp-tender and then topped with crunchy bits of hazelnut and sage and finished with a brown butter vinaigrette infused with garlic and shallots, making it both rich and acidic. The vinaigrette solidifies as it cools, so if you’re making it ahead of time, reheat the dressing in the microwave before serving to loosen it back up.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 servings

Ingredients

16–20 sage leaves (from about 4 sprigs), coarsely torn
½ cup coarsely chopped blanched hazelnuts
2 tsp. plus 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
3 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided
Freshly ground black pepper
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 lb. green beans, trimmed

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat a medium skillet over medium-high. Combine 16–20 sage leaves (from about 4 sprigs), coarsely torn, and ½ cup coarsely chopped blanched hazelnuts in pan and drizzle 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil over. Sprinkle with ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt and season with freshly ground black pepper. Toast, stirring often, until nuts are golden and sage is crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl. Wipe out skillet and reserve.

    Step 2

    Place 1 small garlic clove, finely grated, in a medium bowl. Heat 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter in reserved skillet over medium-high, swirling often, until melted and foaming. Add 1 medium shallot, finely chopped, and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown and smells nutty and shallot is lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Pour brown butter mixture into bowl with garlic, scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom of pan. Add 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt and whisk to combine; season with pepper. Set vinaigrette aside.

    Step 3

    Heat 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high. Add 1 lb. green beans, trimmed, sprinkle with 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and season with pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until bright green and charred in spots but still crisp-tender, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat process with remaining 1 lb. green beans, trimmed, 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and more pepper. Remove from heat and return all of the green beans to skillet (if they don’t fit, use a large bowl instead). Add reserved vinaigrette and toss to coat.

    Step 4

    Transfer dressed green beans to a platter and top with hazelnuts and sage.

    Do ahead: Hazelnuts and sage can be cooked 3 days ahead; store airtight at room temperature. Vinaigrette can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Reheat in microwave in 10-second bursts or set container in a bowl of boiling water to warm before using.

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