Bacony Beans

BACON! It finally features. OK so it's a side dish and the bacon takes more of a supporting role but you know, it's still bacon. I figured it was about time.

This is the best way to jazz up your beans (I'm definitely going to use that sentence again in real life). I love a good green bean as much as the next person, but this turns what is already a superior vegetable into Brad Pitt. This is the Brad Pitt of vegetable dishes. Why have plain beans when you can eat them with bacon and garlic? No I don't know either.

Yes, it's so unbelievably simple I almost feel guilty writing about it. But that works out well for you doesn't it - you get bacon and an easy side dish. Winner.

That's just bacon and garlic there. Soak it in.

Quantities: Serves 3-4 people as a side

Timings: 15 mins

Kitchen Stuff:

Steamer (or normal pan)

Frying Pan

Ingredients:

4 rashers of smoked back bacon (streaky will go crispier but you will need more and it will be less crispy)

500g green beans

3 cloves garlic

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Kitchen towel

Method:

1. BACON: Put your big frying pan on med-high heat with a dollop of olive oil.

Whilst that is heating up, chop your bacon into little pieces and throw them in the pan. Chop your garlic into chunky pieces or slices, depending on your preference. Prepare a piece of kitchen towel on a plate (you’ll see why later).

2. MR BEAN: As your bacon is cooking, start steaming (or just boiling) your green beans. You want them cooked through but al dente so keep an eye on them. No one likes soggy beans (if you do bog off).

3. INTRODUCING GARLIC: Cook the bacon until it’s nearly crispy and add the garlic, keep frying until you have crispy bacon and cooked crisp (but not burnt) garlic.

Transfer the garlicy bacon to the kitchen towel and wrap it up a little to soak up some of the bacon fat. Let it sit there for a mo.

4. THE FINALE: Drain your beans. In the (dry) pan or a separate bowl, mix the beans with the magical bacon and add a small splosh of olive oil and some pepper. The bacon will be salty so you probably won’t need any salt.

Enjoy alongside ANYTHING! You can also add asparagus if you’re feeling crazy. I was.

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