Recipes by Nate - Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon

Green Beans With Mushrooms and Bacon

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
• 8 bacon slices
  
• 3 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms (about 7 oz.)
• 1/4 cup chopped shallots
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. Dried crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
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Preparation

1. 1. Cook beans in boiling salted water to cover in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat 4 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain and set aside.
2. 2. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 1/2 Tbsp. Drippings in skillet. Discard remaining drippings. Crumble bacon.
3. 3. Sauté mushrooms and shallots in hot drippings over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until shallots are tender. Add green beans and crushed red pepper; sauté 1 to 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in crumbled bacon, 1/2 tsp. Black pepper, and 1/4 tsp. Salt.
4. Asparagus With Mushrooms and Bacon: Substitute 2 lb. Fresh asparagus for green beans. Snap off and discard tough ends of asparagus. Cut asparagus into 1 1/2- inch pieces. Proceed with recipe as directed, cooking asparagus pieces for 2 to 4 minutes.
5. Sugar Snaps With Mushrooms and Bacon: Substitute 1 1/2 lb. Sugar snap peas, trimmed, for green beans. Proceed with recipe as directed.