Canned French Style Green Beans

This recipe for Canned French Style Green Beans offers a quick and delicious way to elevate a simple pantry staple. With tender green beans sautéed in soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and mixed with bacon, this dish provides a burst of flavor in minutes. It’s a perfect side for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings alike.

What are French Green Beans?

French green beans, also known as *haricots verts*, are a variety of green beans that are thinner, more tender, and slightly longer than regular green beans.

They have a delicate flavor and a crisper texture, making them ideal for quick cooking methods like sautéing or steaming.

French green beans are often used in gourmet dishes and are prized for their elegant appearance and refined taste.

Are canned green beans any good?

Canned green beans can be a convenient and budget-friendly option, though their texture and flavor differ from fresh or frozen varieties.

While they tend to be softer and may have a slightly muted taste due to the canning process, they can still be quite good when prepared with seasonings, butter, or added to recipes like casseroles or salads.

If you’re looking for ease and a longer shelf life, canned green beans can be a reliable choice, but enhancing them with herbs and spices often improves their flavor.

What ingredients you need for this Canned French Style Green Beans

Canned Green Beans: These are pre-cooked green beans preserved in brine or water, making them a convenient and time-saving option. While fresh green beans were once the standard, canning became popular in the 19th century for its ability to preserve food longer without refrigeration. They are commonly used in recipes where quick preparation is needed and can be enhanced with seasonings to boost flavor.

Garlic is a pungent, aromatic bulb that has been used for centuries across many cuisines. It adds a bold, savory depth to dishes, balancing out flavors with its slight sweetness and sharpness when cooked. In this recipe, garlic enhances the natural taste of green beans and complements the other ingredients.

Vegan bacon is a plant-based alternative made from ingredients like soy, tempeh, or seitan, offering a smoky, savory flavor without animal products. It mimics the umami-rich, salty taste of traditional bacon and is often used in vegan and vegetarian dishes to provide a similar flavor profile. It adds a satisfying crunch and depth to the green beans.

Brown sugar, made from sugar crystals mixed with molasses, gives a subtle caramel sweetness to dishes. It adds balance to the savory ingredients, providing a contrast to the soy sauce and garlic. Brown sugar has been used in cooking for centuries and is often favored for its moist texture and rich flavor.

Soy sauce is a fermented liquid condiment made from soybeans, wheat, and salt. Originating in ancient China, it is used globally for its salty, umami flavor. In this recipe, soy sauce deepens the overall flavor, enhancing both the vegan bacon and green beans while balancing the sweetness from the brown sugar.

How to make Canned French Style Green Beans?

Begin with draining the green beans from the can.

Next, take a medium sized pan and mix in it the soy sauce, sugar, and garlic. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Once the liquid simmers, reduce heat and add the green beans. Toss them well so that they are fully coated.

Now also add the vegan bacon to the green beans. Cook everything for about five minutes. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and your Canned French Style Green Beans are ready to be served. 

​When and how to serve Canned French Style Green Beans

1. Holiday Side Dish: Serve these green beans as a flavorful side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinners to complement main dishes like roasts, turkey, or plant-based entrées.
2. Quick Weeknight Dinner: They make a fast and tasty addition to weeknight meals, pairing well with grilled chicken, tofu, or pasta when time is limited.
3. Potluck or Buffet: These beans are ideal for potlucks or buffet-style gatherings, as they are easy to prepare in advance and can be served warm or at room temperature.
4. Healthy Lunch Bowl: Add them to grain bowls or salads for a nutritious, flavorful vegetable component alongside grains, legumes, and dressings.
5. Picnics and BBQs: Canned French Style green beans are great for outdoor occasions, like picnics or barbecues, as they can be served chilled or reheated in a portable dish.

Other Green Bean recipes to try

• Best Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese Recipe
• Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon Recipe
• Green Bean Salad
• Green Bean Casserole with Maple Pecans
• Mashed Cauliflower Green Bean Casserole

 

I hope you enjoyed making these flavorful canned French style green beans!

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