Green Beans, Balsamic and Pancetta

"Pancetta is a mild, Italian bacon. If not available where you shop, use thin slices of regular bacon. I like this recipe because you can make ahead and keep for up to 2 days. From Chatelaine Magazine."
 
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Ready In:
20mins
Ingredients:
7
Serves:
4-6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat.
  • Meanwhile, slice pancetta into thin strips.
  • Finely chopped shallots should measure about 3 tablespoons (45 mL).
  • Trim ends from beans.
  • Over medium heat, melt butter in a wide frying pan.
  • Add pancetta and shallots.
  • Stir often 3 to 5 minutes until pancetta is crisp.
  • While pancetta is cooking, place beans into boiling water.
  • Boil uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes, until almost tender-crisp.
  • Drain thoroughly.
  • When pancetta is cooked, add hot beans to pan.
  • Sprinkle with salt.
  • Add in vinegar.
  • Stir often for about 1 minute, until vinegar is absorbed.
  • Turn onto a platter; garnish with Parmesan shavings, if you wish.
  • Serve immediately, with Roast Pork, Stuffed With Stilton.
  • Make Ahead: After boiling beans, drain and plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
  • Drain.
  • Pat dry with paper towels.
  • Wrap and refrigerate.
  • Prepare shallots and pancetta following the recipe, but do not cook.
  • Wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days.
  • When ready to cook, continue with recipe.
  • Beans, from the refrigerator, may need a couple of extra minutes to heat.

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Reviews

  1. This made a perfect side for our Thanksgiving Feast! I used a 12 oz. bag of prepared green beans that I could nuke instead of boil. I did make ahead and plunge them in an ice water bath. I added a bit more pancetta, cuz I love the stuff. I used both butter and EVOO. It was just delicious and still good the day after! Thanks for a wonderful addition to our Tday feast! 12/3 Update: I made this w/o the pancetta tonight and it was still awesome!
     
  2. Just wonderful! I used bacon, which worked just as well. Thanks!
     
  3. wonderful vegetable....we really enjoyed it...I did add a little brown sugar at the end to sweeten it up a little...wonderful fancy vegetable to serve dinner guests...and so easy...
     
  4. Excellent way to serve green beans! I actually steamed, then chilled, the beans a few hours prior to company arriving and had the pancetta and shallots chopped and ready to go. It was very quick and easy to put together at the last minute. The balsamic just finishes this dish off perfectly! Very, very good. Thanks Toolie!
     
  5. This is terrific. I cook for 2 or 3 people, usually, so halved the recipe and it worked just fine to do so. I have made is using the pancetta and also with bacon and have to say that while the pancetta does add a bit, it works fine with bacon, too. The last time I did this recipe, I pre-cooked my greenbeans by steaming in the microwave for a few minutes instead of boiling them. This is easier and works fine. This is delicious, and worth it to chop those shallots!
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Gone, but not Forgotten. Where is she? someone asked. Not far was the loud response. Certainly not hiding in a large roasting pan, although I do have one about the size of a hog. <br /> <br />If I don't do this now, I never will, and if I never will, who will tell me if I am any good at the literature game? I am taking some time off to concentrate on writing a book...and you people have been distracting me. Oh yeah, sez you... What kinda book? Well, one with about 200 pages, give or take a dozen or so... maybe 300 who knows? Everyone knows Toolie has a lot to say at the best of times. <br /> <br />A DIY book??? Naaahhh, I'll leave that to the real mechanics at Canadian Tire and Home Depot. <br /> <br />A Recipe Book? Yeah, Right!!!! Like I would compete with this site or any other... Not in this lifetime... I have a tough enough time competing with some of you chefs, so I just don't, and won't. <br /> <br />Oh sure, I will cook some of your recipes, for special occasions. Pictures? Who knows? but don't hold your breath. Posting in the forums? Perhaps, but not on a regular basis... Posting recipes??? from time to time.... <br /> <br />Why hang around, you say? Because I wanna keep my terrific handle. There is only one TOOLBELT DIVA folks... Dat Be Me! <br /> <br />Remember, be careful what you say, you might find yourself in the second paragraph of page 150, or thereabouts. <br /> <br />In October, 2007 my youngest sister, Marie lost her battle with ALS. In her memory, therefore, I post the following: <br /> <br />SISTERS <br /> <br />Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Hearts break. Parents die. Careers end. Life happens ... <br /> <br />BUT...... Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. <br /> <br />When you have to walk beside one dear to you in that lonesome valley, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf. <br /> <br />They will walk beside you, share your sorrow and share your tears, knowing all the while God is there with you, to give you the strength and faith you need and the everlasting blessings of healing love. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE WORLD (M. Gandhi) <br /> <br />IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BECOME WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE (Georges Eliot) <br /> <br />THAT WHICH WE PERSIST IN DOING BECOMES EASIER, NOT THAT THE TASK ITSELF HAS BECOME EASIER, BUT THAT OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM IT HAS IMPROVED. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) <br /> <br />Have fun everyone! Remember, look out for the guy in back of the guy in front of you!!!</p>
 
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