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    Home » Blog » Whole Food Recipes » Easy Side Dish Recipes

    May 28, 2020 | By Jami

    Green Beans with Caramelized Onions & Tomatoes - Quick & Healthy Recipe

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    Easy side dish-green beans-onions-tomatoes
    green beans with tomatoes-onions on platter

    If you're looking for a quick, easy, and flavorful side dish that uses height of the season fresh vegetables, this is it! Green beans with caramelized onions and tomatoes is perfect warm or room temperature, making it a great potluck pick, too.

    Green beans with caramelized onions-tomatoes

    We've been eating green beans sautéed with balsamic caramelized onions and fresh tomatoes for years now. It's an in-season, super simple side dish recipe that is loaded with flavor. 

    Loaded. Really - I'm going to use that word here and you'll just have to trust me. This is one of my favorite things to make when the beans and tomatoes are coming in from the garden.

    Green beans-caramelized onions-tomatoes platter

    While it's not quite as simple as these amazing garlic green beans, it's just a few more steps and still finished in under 15 minutes.

    And those caramelized onions? That added flavor is to.die.for.

    What kind of tomatoes can I use?

    The tomatoes can be anything you're harvesting from the garden. I'm showcasing small grape tomatoes in these photos, but I also really like using thickly chopped roma tomatoes.

    If you would like to use heirloom tomatoes for their lovely flavor, I would cut them in half and then squeeze out the seeds and juice before roughly chopping them just to minimize the amount of juice they put off when heated.

    Are green beans good for you?

    Green beans are a good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, folate, vitamin K and silicon which we need for healthy bones, skin, and hair.

    Does boiling green beans remove nutrients?

    Green beans have been found to keep their antioxidant levels after most cooking methods, so feel free to steam (like this recipe), boil, or roast. Source

    Green Beans with Caramelized Onions & Tomatoes

    Green beans-caramelized onions-tomatoes ingredients

    Ingredients

    This recipe uses simple ingredients, all conveniently ready at the same time in the garden (or from the farmers market). And butter, because so many things are better with butter.

    • fresh green beans
    • chopped onion
    • halved or chopped tomato
    • butter (however, feel free to use olive oil for a dairy free option)
    • balsamic vinegar
    • salt & pepper
    • dried red pepper flakes (optional)
    cooking caramelized onions-tomatoes

    Directions

    To make this recipe first you'll steam the green beans in a little water until crisp-tender. Drain when cooked to your liking.

    While the beans are steaming, cook the onion in butter (or oil), stirring occasionally, until onions start to caramelize (about 5 to 8 minutes).

    Add a tablespoon (or so...) of balsamic vinegar and cook for about a minute before adding the tomatoes, salt and pepper.

    You'll just stir to combine them and then remove from heat. Also, sprinkle some dried hot peppers to taste. Yes, go ahead...you'll be glad you did.

    Oh my. I can smell that caramelized goodness just looking at the picture. At this point taste to check the seasonings. Oh, yes...taste away.

    Cooked green beans on platter
    Green beans-caramelized onions-tomatoes above

    Serving

    At this point you can plate them like I did, layering the beans on a platter and then topping with the caramelized onions and tomatoes.

    Or just toss it all together in a serving bowl- whatever suits your mood for that day.

    Variations

    You can add a 1/4 cup feta cheese garnish (really good) or parmesan cheese. Or mix it up by adding a clove of garlic and some fresh herbs (thyme is especially good) at the end of cooking the onions.

    It's easy to play around with this dish.

    But when it comes to eating them, you are not going to want to play around with these beans, again...trust me. 

    Unless, apparently, you're my son who informed me he doesn't even like "the smell of caramelized onion." How could I have birthed someone who doesn't like caramelized onions?

    Can I make this with frozen green beans?

    Probably, though I haven't. Here's what I would do since I don't care for frozen green beans steamed (even frozen without blanching which helps with the squeaky-rubbery texture a LOT):

    Roast the green beans while making the onion-tomato mixture! I've had good success with roasting frozen beans. Here's how:

    • Heat oven to 425 degrees.
    • Place frozen beans in a single layer on a lined cookie sheet.
    • Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix together.
    • Make sure beans are still in a single layer and then roast for 10-15 minutes or until done to your liking.
    • Proceed with the recipe.
    Green beans-caramelized onions-tomatoes above
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.67 from 3 votes

    Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Tomatoes

    A simple and healthy side dish using the best of the season's produce, this recipe is good both warm and at room temperature, making it a great potluck option.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Yield: 6 servings
    Author: Jami Boys

    Equipment

    • 3-quart saucepan
    • 10-inch skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound green beans trimmed and cut
    • 2 tablespoons butter divided**
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 3 Roma paste-type tomatoes, cored & chopped*
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/8 teaspoon dried red chili peppers or to taste

    Instructions

    • Steam green beans in a large pot lined with a steamer basket and filled with water to the bottom of the basket (alternately, you can boil the beans in a large pot filled with about 3 quarts of salted water). In both cases, you'll want to cook just until crisp-tender: bring water to a boil, add beans, and cover and cook on medium for about 5 minutes, depending on size.
    • Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, 5-8 minutes. Add garlic variation here if using.
    • Add balsamic vinegar and cook a minute before adding the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and dried chili peppers and any optional herbs. Cook another 1-3 minutes, and then remove from heat.
    • Drain the beans when they are done and toss with the remaining butter and more salt and pepper as you'd like.
    • Serving Options: 1)Place the beans on a serving plate and top with the onion-tomato mixture, OR 2) Toss it all together and serve in a bowl. Top with cheese variation if desired.

    Notes

    *My preference is drier paste tomatoes, but you can also use halved grape or cherry tomatoes, or chopped larger heirloom tomatoes (though squeeze juice and seeds from the halves before chopping).
    **Or olive oil for a dairy free version.
    Optional Variations:
    • Add fresh herbs (2 tablespoons thyme and rosemary, or 1/4 cup chopped basil) at the same time as the tomatoes.
    • Add 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced, at the end of caramelizing the onions.
    • Top the finished dish with 1/4 cup crumbled or shredded cheese like feta, goat, or parmesan.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 638IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!
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    This recipe has been updated - it was first published in September of 2010.

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    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. healy says

      September 21, 2010 at 7:46 am

      This recipe sounds delicious! I love all the healthy ingredients =)

      Reply
    2. Lexa says

      September 19, 2010 at 4:17 pm

      Lovely recipe Jami. It looks like Summer on a plate! I got caught up on blogging this morning and have tried to answer your onion questions.

      Reply
    3. Julie @ Get Healthy Cheap says

      September 18, 2010 at 4:03 pm

      OMG! I'm a green bean lover already but this just puts them over the top! They look absolutely delicious, thanks for linking up to Family Food Fridays. Hope to see ya next week. 🙂

      Reply
      • Kim Love says

        August 12, 2020 at 5:02 pm

        Need better instructions such as, how much water needs to be added to pot to boil 1 pound of green beans. The same goes for the optional variations, how much thyme, basil, rosemary, and garlic. I give this 3.5 stars because of the instructions. After adding more and more season to taste I managed to get something that tasted ok. The positives is, this is a unique dish that I would have never thought to make. I will remake again, thank you. Please fix instructions for 5 stars

        Reply
        • Jami says

          August 13, 2020 at 3:53 pm

          Done! Glad you found it unique.

          Reply
          • Laurie says

            August 22, 2021 at 4:01 am

            5 stars
            Sooo Good! I don't bother blanching just add them to the pan after cooking onions for a few minutes! Delicious with the fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes from the garden! Thank you!!! Might try to plant some more green beans to see if it's not too late for another crop!

            Reply
            • Jami says

              August 25, 2021 at 10:31 am

              Oh, yay - so glad you tried that - I'll do that, too. 🙂
              Thanks so much for the review!

    4. nativetexangirl says

      September 17, 2010 at 6:07 pm

      This looks so yummy. Thank you for the great button for printing! This helps a lot. I copy and paste into a word document so I can save the recipes in An Oregon Cottage file folder because I print them and misplace the printed copy sometimes. 😀

      Reply
    5. Heather's Blog-o-rama says

      September 17, 2010 at 3:00 pm

      I really like the recipe, especially, on how to caramelize the onions 😉 ): Oh, this is totally random...but in the photo with the butter on that plate...Is that a Depression glass plate? It reminds me of some Depression glass that I own...That plate is really cute!! Have a great weekend. Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather 🙂

      Reply
    6. affectioknit says

      September 17, 2010 at 2:32 pm

      Oh my! Those look delicious!

      Reply
    7. Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage says

      September 17, 2010 at 2:08 pm

      This recipe sounds like green bean heaven. Sounds sooooo good!! I also didn't like onions until I was in my twenties. Now I want to put them in everything.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jami and I'm so glad you're here! My desire is to help you live a simple homemade life through delicious whole food recipes, easy organic gardening and preserving your harvest.

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