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READY IN 20 mins

Kentucky Wonder Beans

Read Reviews (5)

"These are an old soul food heirloom favorite in the garden and what I remember eating frequently as a child. I grew the pole variety this summer and they are super prolific/productive. They taste like nothing you buy in a store - super meaty, tender, long-lasting flavor. And now they are a favorite in my own family. The beans will cook in this semi-salty broth, and won't be as salty as is the broth." — Gascoigne

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Original recipe makes 4 servings Change Servings

4 cups trimmed heirloom green beans (such as Kentucky Wonder Beans)
1 slice bacon
1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon olive oil, or as needed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 pinch coarsely ground black pepper to taste

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Directions

Pour about 1 inch of water into a saucepan; add green beans, bacon, garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and place a cover on the saucepan. Cook beans until tender, 7 to 10 minutes.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 10 mins
COOK 10 mins
READY IN 20 mins

Footnotes

Editor's Note:
The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the broth ingredients. The actual amount of the brine consumed will vary.

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Reviews More Reviews

Jul 21, 2012

This is exactly how my Grandma always cooked green beans out of the garden. Only change made was she cut the bacon up into bits, sauteed it in her cast iron skillet with a little butter and threw in the green beans and saute it a little before adding the water, pepper and salt. This takes me right back to childhood whenever I make it.

—Sarah Jo

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Aug 14, 2012

I was craving green beans and used this recipe. I added about a 1/2 tsp of onion powder to it. Very tasty! This recipe has been added to my recipe box.

—jazzncatz

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5 Ratings

Aug 05, 2012

These were excellent! They had that southern vegetable taste, without frying up a bunch of bacon or cooking the vegetables in tablespoons of bacon grease. It made the texture much better too, in my opinion. I wasn't sure what this Kentucky bean was, so I used an 18oz bag of pictsweet brand whole green beans. I didn't even bother to defrost them. I just did the water to about 1/2" only to make up for the excess water of the frozen beans. For the bacon, I only had pre-cooked bacon which is really thin. So, I used 2 slices. It was perfect. I had finished the beans, and realized I missed the clove of garlic. They didn't need them. I will definitely be making these again, esp. with the calorie count. They were great with a seafood main dish. Thanks!

—Blender Woman

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Nov 22, 2012

Fantastic. I used extra bacon and added a bit of chicken bouillon to the water, but followed the recipe otherwise. The beans were a big hit. I will definitely make these again. Thanks!

—BUTTERFLYFISH

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Jan 27, 2013

I came across Kentucky Wonder beans in the supermarket yesterday and decided to give them a try. Their appearance before cooking could lead one to suspect that they might be tough and stringy, but they were surprising tender, "meaty", and flavorful when prepared following this recipe. I didn't have any bacon on hand, so used some chopped smoked ham. This has been added to my list of vegetable basics!

—Dmax

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Nutrition

Calories
78 kcal
4%

Carbohydrates
8.3 g
3%

Cholesterol
5 mg
2%

Fat
4.5 g
7%

Fiber
3.8 g
15%

Protein
2.9 g
6%

Sodium
285 mg
11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Kentucky Wonder Beans

Serving Size: 1/4 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 78
Calories from Fat: 40

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4.5g 7 %
Saturated Fat 1.2g 6 %
Cholesterol 5mg 2 %
Sodium 285mg 11 %
Potassium 252mg 7 %
Total Carbohydrates 8.3g 3 %
Dietary Fiber 3.8g 15 %
Protein 2.9g 6 %
Sugars 1.5g
Vitamin A 15 %
Vitamin C 30 %
Calcium 5 %
Iron 39 %
** Thiamin 12 %
Niacin 12 %
Vitamin B6 7 %
Magnesium 12 %
Folate 23 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.