Green Beans with Caramelized-Shallot Butter

To make this dish ahead, plunge the beans into ice water after boiling, and drain and refrigerate up to a day ahead. Prepare and chill the shallot mixture up to 2 days ahead. To serve, place the beans and shallot mixture in a large microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave at HIGH 3 minutes or until heated. Toss well before serving.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 2 1/2  tablespoons  butter
• 1  cup  sliced shallots
• 1/3  cup  balsamic vinegar
• 2  teaspoons  chopped fresh thyme
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon rind
• 3/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 2  pounds  green beans, trimmed (about 10 cups)

Preparation

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sauté 4 minutes or until golden. Stir in vinegar; cook 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in thyme, rind, salt, and pepper.

Cook beans in boiling water 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Place beans in a large bowl. Stir in shallot mixture; toss well to coat.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

90 (29% from fat)

Fat:

2.9g (sat 1.8g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.1g)

Protein:

2.8g

Carbohydrate:

14.8g

Fiber:

3.3g

Cholesterol:

8mg

Iron:

1.1mg

Sodium:

207mg

Calcium:

49mg