Green Beans with Balsamic Date Reduction Feta & Pine Nuts – Healthy vegetarian side dish recipe for sauteed green beans with balsamic date reduction sauce, crumbled feta and toasted pine nuts.
I see green vegetables as a blank canvas, just waiting to be decorated. Vegetables on their own can be somewhat boring… steamed, sauteed, grilled… they’re nice, but they lack a “wow” factor unless they have a dressing, sauce, or some other sort of embellishment. I find green beans to be particularly yawn-inducing. Lately, I’ve challenged myself to come up with some more exciting ways to serve them. I usually make them Middle Eastern-style with tomatoes, and more recently discovered they go really well with caponata. With Thanksgiving around the corner and those heavy green bean casseroles with canned soup on many menus (sorry, I’m not a fan), I decided to develop something lighter and more flavorful… something unexpected. This recipe is the result – Green Beans with Balsamic Date Reduction, Feta and Pine Nuts. It’s a long-winded title for a really simple and fabulously festive side dish.
Young, thin green beans are quick-sauteed with olive oil, salt and pepper. If you’re using larger beans, feel free to steam them- note about that in the recipe below. Top them with a simple reduction made from soaked dates and balsamic vinegar, which creates a gorgeous plum-colored sweet and tart sauce. Sprinkle the whole thing with salty feta – I like the Israeli block feta sold in many kosher/Middle Eastern markets – and toasted pine nuts. If you have nut allergies (or you’re watching your budget), feel free to substitute toasted sunflower seeds.
Serve warm or at room temperature, depending on your preference. It’s a surprising and delicious symphony of flavors. If you don’t mind serving dairy with meat, or you’re having a vegetarian holiday meal, I think this would make an excellent Thanksgivukkah side dish. 🙂
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Green Beans with Balsamic Date Reduction, Feta and Pine Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 pound young, thin green beans (if using larger beans, see note at the end of the recipe)
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup pitted dates
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted pinenuts (or sub toasted sunflower seeds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
NOTES
Instructions
- Soak dates in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften. In a blender, combine the dates, water, balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth.
- In a small saucepot, bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer on low until sauce is reduced and thickened, stirring frequently. It should be thick, but still easy to drizzle.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the green beans with the olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Pour the olive oil-coated seasoned green beans into the skillet and sauté for 6-8 minutes, or until tender-crisp.
- Toss beans with half of the feta and half of the pine nuts, then transfer to your serving dish. Drizzle with reduction and top with remaining feta and pine nuts.
Nutrition
Yum!
Tori, you are amazing! I´m going to try this. I just purchased some beautiful organic green beans and I´ve been looking for a recipe. 🙂
sent to my daughter in laws lets see who makes it for me first!!!!! yum yum….
It´s so nice to have something crunchy and delicious when you dont eat bacon 🙂
Looks and sounds delicious
That is lovely
That looks delicious, and beautiful, too.
Looks yummy
Looks delicious Tori!
What a beautiful side dish! I’m not a fan of those green bean casseroles either. But some of my guests don’t think it’s Thanksgiving without it! I think I could slather that reduction on everything!
Figs (instead of dates) work great too!
Looks amazing, going on my ´must try´ list.
My go-to green recipe is still one off your blog from two years ago! The one sauteed with tomato! Mmmm….
Sounds great, someone make it so I can taste it, LOL
Wayy better than that OLD bean casserole most people make on the Holidays…LOLyummy TY I will use this..
<3 green beans!
You always hit the spot. No small thing.
thanks
Pine nuts, dates, balsamic vinegar and feta are always a staple in our home! Just need the green beans!! Thanks Tori for this lovely idea, can´t wait to try it!!
wow sounds great! might just be trying this soon!