Pomegranate-Glazed Green Beans

Looking to upgrade your holiday spread? These Pomegranate Glazed Green Beans are a recipe straight from the Mediterranean Levant region.

This dish is a light yet flavorful substitute for green bean casserole, saving you the heavy cream, butter, and fried onions, and on average, is cheaper to make, and saves you around 400 extra calories per serving. Pomegranate seeds add festive flair and a satisfying crunch that pairs beautifully with the caramelized onions and sweet glaze.

Packed with antioxidants and a delightful combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, this dish is perfect for impressing your guests while keeping things light, wholesome, inexpensive, and healthy for your heart and brain, too! Best of all? It’s FAST!

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb green beans, trimmed
• 2 medium yellow or white onions, diced
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Prep the Green Beans: Wash the green beans. Snap off the top and bottom ends of the green beans. If they’re longger than 1 1/2 inches, cut in half.
2. Caramelize the Onions: Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until lightly caramelized.
3. Combine: Toss in the green beans, pomegranate juice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together. Cook for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
4. Let it glaze: Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the green beans soften, juice reduces by half and becomes syrupy.
5. Finish the Dish: Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds for a festive finishing touch.

Cooking Tips

• Reduce Prep: Buy oniones pre-diced, and buy fresh or frozen green beans that are already washed and trimmed.
• Make Ahead: This meal can be frozen, and reheated later. After reheating, top with pomegranate seeds for a beautiful garnish.
• Substitute: Not a fan of pomegranate? Try cranberry juice and dried cranberries for a similar tangy sweetness.
• Enhance the Flavor: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat or toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds for crunch.

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Nutrition Facts per serving (1/2 cup)

Calories: 110  |   Total fat: 3g   |   Sat fat: 0g   |   Sodium: 305 mg   |   Total Carbohvdrate: 18g   |   Sugars: 6 g   |   Dietary Fiber: 4g   |   Protein: 3g