Intolerances: Fructose, Gluten, Soy, Dairy
Crisp green beans with a hint of Asian flavor, wrapped in smoky bacon.

These green bean bundles will take your plate up a notch. Not only are they packed with delicious flavor, but they are also fun and different than most side dishes. You can customize these to your liking, making them as big or small of bundles as you would like. I love adding these to snack meals (a favorite in our house – a meal comprised of lots of small bites) or on the side of a piece of fish or steak. There is something that feels upscale about them, even though it is just green beans and bacon. Although, let’s be honest, bacon is always going to upgrade a plate.

What to serve it with:

• Reverse Seared Ribeye
• Grilled Fish
• Your Favorite Appetizer Platter

What you need: 

• Baking Sheet or Tray
• Cutting Board and Sharp Knife
• Sauté pan
• Pot
• Bowl
• Wooden or Metal Skewers (if grilling)
• Green Beans
• Smoked Bacon
• Asian Marinade
• Black Pepper

The Beans

The first thing that you’ll want to do is get a pot of water boiling on the stove. While the water is beginning to boil, it is time to wash and trim the beans. Rinse the beans under cold water and then line them up on a cutting board so that the stems all face the same way. Using a sharp knife, trim cut off the ends. When the water is boiling, add a tablespoon of kosher salt to the water and then add the beans. Let the beans boil for approximately 2-3 minutes, until the beans are al dente (just tender). Remove the beans from the pot and add them directly into an ice bath (bowl filled with ice water). This will stop the beans from cooking. Remove the beans from the bowl onto a paper towel and pat dry.

Next, in a sauté pan, over medium heat, add teaspoon of olive oil and then the beans. Add 1/4 cup of asian marinade to the pan and let the beans simmer at medium-low heat in the liquid. Make sure to toss and coat the beans. Let these simmer for about 2 minutes and remove from the heat.

The Bacon Bundle

I personally like to use a double smoked bacon, I like the flavor and it typically is the perfect thickness. You will need 3-4 slices of bacon, sliced in half, width wise. Place 5-8 beans in the center of each strip of bacon and wrap the bacon around. You will want to secure these bundles with a toothpick, wooden skewer or metal skewer. I’ve even used one long metal skewer and place all of the bean bundles on it together. Crack black pepper over the bundles for one more taste of flavor.

Grill: Turn the grill to 400 degrees and grill the bean bundles 10-15 minutes, flipping 1-2 times until the bacon is cooked through.

Bake: Bake on a sheet pan for 15, flipping halfway through. The bundles are ready when the bacon is cooked through.