Sauteed Green Beans with Cranberries & Walnuts

Part of the fun of cooking and hosting dinners is experimenting with new recipes and getting feedback from my guests. Be assured that if I am putting a recipe in our blog, the feedback is mostly positive. This delightful dish is the trifecta of three very popular items on many holiday tables--sweet potatoes, cranberries, and green beans—and therefore perfect for simplifying your menu.

 

 

Sautéed Green Beans with Cranberries & Walnuts

Ingredients: 

2/3 cup (about 3 oz.) dried cranberries
1-1/4 cups orange juice
2/3 cup (2 oz.) walnut halves
3/4 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp. plus 2 Tbsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
1 to 1-1/4 lb. fresh green beans, rinsed well, stem ends trimmed
6 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh sage

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350°F. Put the cranberries and 1 cup of the orange juice in a small bowl and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Spread the walnuts in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a plate to cool. When cool, crumble the nuts into smaller pieces. Increase the oven temperature to 450°F. Toss the diced sweet potato with the maple syrup, the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, the 1/2 tsp. salt, and the black pepper. Spread the potato pieces on the same rimmed baking sheet you used to toast the nuts and roast, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside. Meanwhile, bring 4 qt. water and the 2 Tbsp. salt to a boil in an 8-qt. pot. Put the beans in the boiling water, stir once or twice to distribute them, and cook until just tender throughout, 4 to 5 minutes, depending on their size and freshness. Drain the beans well in a colander. When ready to serve, strain the cranberries and reserve the juice. Melt the butter in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling but not browned. Add the chopped sage and let sizzle for just a few seconds, stirring, to flavor the butter and crisp the sage. Add the green beans and spread them out in the pan. Let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes without stirring. Add the cooked sweet potatoes, toasted walnuts, and strained cranberries. Toss all together and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes more, to let the ingredients warm and their flavors mingle. Add the reserved orange juice, stir well, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper.