Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

I will be the first to admit that I love picking fresh beans from my garden. It brings pure joy to me knowing that I can simply walk out into my backyard, pick what I need, and head back into the kitchen to make something wonderful for the family. Now, sure I wish I had a small farm where I could grow anything I could possibly think of, but let’s face it, I have a fairly small backyard where I can grow a few things. This year I have a variety of tomatoes, green beans, basil, chives, rosemary, mint, oregano, parsley, cilantro, serrano chilies, cucumbers, and a mixed medley of lettuce. That is plenty to make this man a happy camper and to get me through these Summer months.

I recently made some green beans with fresh mint that was a real treat, and they were so easy to make that I wanted to twist it up a bit, cooking them a bit of the same, however adding a couple of more ingredients into the mix. I quickly scanned my counter and noticed a great looking onion, and in the ‘fridge was some fresh parmesan reggiano that was recently purchased. What better flavors that sweet onions and salty parmesan cheese!

This recipe is not only super simple to make, but it yields some really killer flavors. Perfect for any night of the week.

Ingredients:

• Fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• salt
• Parmesan cheese, coarsely grated

Begin by warming up a large skillet to medium heat. Add in the olive oil and butter, and toss in your thinly sliced onions. Your mission is to cook these nice and slow, reducing the heat slightly, taking your time to caramelize the onions. This process will take you about thirty minutes, so plan accordingly. Stir, and stir often as you do not want to burn the onions. The result is a dark golden caramelized onion that is just out of this world in flavor.When you are about 20 minutes into the process, heat a pot of salted water to a boil.

Boil the beans for only about 5 minutes, then drain them, and toss into the large skillet of caramelized onions. Give a few good tosses, mixing up the onions and beans, and plate. Coarsely grate the parmesan cheese onto the top of the beans. Before digging into this dish, enjoy the aroma of this dish as it is one you will remember. You get a nice crunch with the bean, the sweetness of the onion, and the saltiness of the cheese. A really nice combination that can be eaten alone, or served with your favorite dish.