Move aside mushy green beans and green bean casserole, there is a new healthier player in town. Fresh, crunchy, nutty and deliciously yummy.
Serious question about Holiday cooking: green bean casserole. Do you really like it or is it just a warm childhood memory? And the only reason I'm asking is because growing up, we never ever ate anything like it. So maybe it's a cultural thing. Maybe that's the reason why it is so unappealing to us.
I don't know, there's something about taking an awesome veggie like a green beans, slathering it in condensed soup and topping it with fried onions that come from a can that doesn't sit right with us... So for those of you who share our feelings, here's an alternative that we think you might enjoy: sautéed green beans, creamy chestnuts, tart dried cherries and crunchy pomegranate seeds drizzled with tangy lemony tahini. How does that sound? Easy to prepare, waaaaay healthier and so beautiful, it will absolutely brighten your table this Holiday season. And who knows, it might even convince the casserole lovers 😉
Thoughts?? Please share!
How to cook green beans?
If you want crunchy, fresh and brightly colored green beans, just follow these simple steps:
- Prepare a bowl of ice water and set aside.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and generously salt the water.
- Add green beans, and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Using kitchen tongs remove green beans from boiling water and place in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. The green beans should be bright green, cooked, but still crunchy. If you like them softer cook them an additional minute or two.
- Now you can either season them with olive oil, salt, and balsamic vinegar, add your favorite dressing or lightly saute them in a pan with your favorite ingredients. In our recipe, we added roasted chestnuts, dried cherries, fresh pomegranates, and a creamy tahini dressing.
- Do you prefer a simpler 1 pan dish, try our roasted green beans with fresh cranberries and Dukkah.
- Enjoy 🙂
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Green Beans with Chestnuts, Pomegranates & Lemony Tahini
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 10 generous cups 1x
Description
Move aside mushy green beans and green bean casserole, there is a new healthier player in town. Fresh, crunchy, nutty and deliciously yummy.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of fresh or frozen (thawed) French green beans ( haricots verts), trimmed and washed. If using regular green beans they may require a longer cooking time, since French green beans are thinner.
- 3 tbsp sea salt or 2 tbsp table salt
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2- 5.3oz (150 grams each) pack peeled and roasted chestnuts (we used Gefen )
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon sea salt, to taste
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- 2 cup pomegranate seeds ( about 2 pomegranates). More or less to taste
- Lemony Tahini click HERE for the recipe
Instructions
- Prepare a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add green beans cook for about 4-5 minutes. The green beans will be cooked, but crunchy, if you like them sifter cooked them 1-2 minutes longer.
- Transfer green beans to the ice water bowl to stop the cooking process. Remove green beans from ice bath and drain well.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook on medium-high for 1 minute. Add chestnuts and cherries and ⅛-1/4 teaspoon of salt and the black pepper, cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add drained green beans and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Stirring frequently.
- Transfer to a serving dish. Drizzle with lemony tahini and sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Sides
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Vegan / kosher
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous cup without tahini
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 21.7
- Sodium: 242
- Fat: 2.8
- Saturated Fat: .4
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 5.8
- Protein: 3.5
- Cholesterol: 0
tanya says
What a pretty salad! I bet is taste fantastic too 🙂 Perfect for Christmas dinner.
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Tanya! Not bad for 2 Jewish girls 😉
Ashley says
I love that you used chestnuts! These green beans look awesome!
My mom never made green bean casserole growing up - we had green beans but not in casserole form! Which is possibly why I don't like it!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks, we love chestnuts and we try to use them in different ways!
kushi says
WOW! That looks so colorful and lovely combo!
★★★★★
nipponnin says
Beautiful pics! Love the color combination, great for Christmas. I love to try this recipe because I love chestnuts!
Ha ha ha, I actually like the green bean casserole...too bad last Thanksgiving, someone made it and brought to the party, it didn't taste so good. He used can green beans...way to mushy.
★★★★★
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I love EVERYTHING about this gorgeous dish...the colour and flavour ... just perfect!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Angie! 🙂
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I didn't grow up eating the green bean casserole either, and I have never liked it! This is such a creative alternative. I LOVE that it has chestnuts and pomegranates! So wintery and full of color and flavor!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks! We like this this because it is fresh and healthy!
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
Looks totally delicious! I love pomegranate arils on top:) Yum!
Melanie @ Melanie Cooks says
Such a healthy and colorful dish! Pomegranate always make everything look festive! Looks delicious!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks 🙂
Evi @ greenevi says
This is absolutely delicious and awesome!
I love every single ingredient here, definitely gonna try it!
Harriet Emily says
This looks beautiful! So many lovely colours. I love adding pomegranates to dishes like this. It sounds so delicious, it's such a great way to serve green beans!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks, you can never have too many green bean recipes right?
marcela says
Yum! The colors look amazing! Great pictures and fantastic recipe!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thanks, we do like colorful food, so many fruits and veggies to play with.
ZazaCook says
This is making my mouth water! Nice picture!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you so much!
Sissi says
It's one of the most beautiful dishes I've ever seen. With my beloved pomegranate seeds!
Vicky & Ruth says
We love using pomegranates in sweet and savory dishes, we area little obsessed :-). Thank you for your kind words.
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I do love the green bean casserole, but I also live in the south where it's tradition. I also happen to love your chestnut and pomegranate combo too! And lemony tahini? Yes! This is one gorgeous, colorful, and festive bean dish!
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Rachelle. We had no idea that the casserole was from the South. You learn something every day!
Dot says
This looks amazing but the link to the lemony tahini dressing is broken. Can you help with that recipe or a new link? I really want to make this for thanksgiving this year!
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi, thank you for bringing the broken link to our attention. We have fixed the link. Enjoy!