Recipe: Holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola

Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN

Jess’s holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola cheese

You will need:
4 lb fresh green string beans
1 cup organic walnut halves
6 oz gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 large sweet Vidalia onion, sliced thinly
3 Tbsp heart healthy butter
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
¾ cup water


Instructions:

1. In small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat.  Stir in brown sugar.  Add sliced onion and reduce heat to low.  Cook slowly, until tender, about 25 minutes. 
2. Pre-heat oven to low broil.  In 9x13 inch metal sheet pan, spread walnuts evenly.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.  Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat.  Toast in oven for 2 minutes; remove pan and toss walnuts to flip.  Broil for 1 more minute, until nuts are toasted.  
3. In large stock pot, bring ¾ cup water to a boil.  Clean and remove stem ends from green beans, leaving remaining green bean whole.  Steam green beans until tender-crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain beans. Pour remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over beans and gently toss to coat.  Transfer beans to large serving platter or dish. 
4. Spread onions on top of green beans.  Top with toasted walnuts and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.  Serve immediately.

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Serves 14
Nutrition Information per serving
Calories 162
Fat 13 grams
Carbohydrate 8 grams
Protein 5 grams

-From Jess’s Kitchen, Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN