If you’re looking for a way to make vegetables taste a little more exciting, look no further than this simple side dish. Green Bean and Bacon Bundles are exactly what they sound like, and they’ll have even the pickiest of eaters asking for a second helping!
It starts with lightly steamed green beans that are then tossed with lots of flavorful spices like garlic, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Then the beans are wrapped into bundles with a slice of crispy vegan bacon.
This is the kind of recipe that anyone can make and I would imagine it’s one that kids would like making since counting out the green beans and rolling them into bundles would be a fun job for them to do.
Easy as it may be, this recipe packs a flavorful punch and looks elegant enough to add to your Thanksgiving or holiday table. I recommend serving these smokey, savory bundles with some chilled cranberry sauce on the side too. The combo creates a nice balance of sweet and savory, and really brightens everything up!
Whether you make this recipe for a casual weeknight dinner or add it to your holiday dinner menu, these Vegan Green Bean and Bacon Bundles are a great way to make sure that everyone eats their veggies!
Happy cooking!
Nicole
Vegan Green Bean and Bacon Bundles
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans trimmed
- 1.5 – 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp garlic granules or garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 8 slices vegan bacon
You will also need
- chilled cranberry sauce for serving optional but delicious!
- ice optional, see instructions below
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Fill a large mixing bowl half way up with ice and water to create an ice bath. Set aside.
- Wash and trim the ends of the green beans. Then steam for one to two minutes, or until the beans turn bright green. Immediately remove from the heat and place the green beans in the bowl of ice water (or rinse thoroughly with very cold water until completely cool if you don't have ice water) Tip: This technique is called blanching. It means we're not trying to fully cook the green beans at this point, we're just getting them started so that they cook perfectly in the oven later on. Pre-steaming really improves the final texture and makes them a lot more delicious, so just steam lightly and then stop the cooking with ice water. Drain well and set aside.
- Next warm a large frying pan over medium/high heat and add the vegan bacon. Allow the bacon to cook for 1-2 minutes or until the edges begin to crisp slightly. Again, this is giving the bacon a head start but don't cook it all the way through. We still want it to be pliable enough to roll around the green beans. Set aside to cool.
Assemble
- In a large bowl, add the green beans, olive oil, salt, nutmeg, garlic granules, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly, then lay one slice on bacon on a cutting board and place 5-6 green beans on top. Roll the bacon tightly around the center of the green beans to create a bundle and place the bundles fold side down on the cookie sheet.
Bake
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the green beans are cooked through and the bacon is crisp. Serve warm with a cranberry sauce on top or on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
If you’d like some more holiday recipes these Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes are always a big hit and this is another green bean recipe you might enjoy!
Happy holidays!
Nicole
Hey! I’m Nicole and I make practical vegan recipes for REAL life. I cook with simple, easy to find ingredients and I’m passionate about creating delicious plant-based meals that everyone will love!
I hope you enjoy my recipes and videos :) Happy Cooking!
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