Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes: Best Ever Braised Green Beans

Here's a secret recipe that I eat all the time in real life and have never put up on PD! My boyfriend loves this and requests this all the time, and so do I. The only reason I've never put it up was that I was afraid it wouldn't photograph well since it only has a few ingredients. It's one of those recipes that will make you see a "boring" vegetable in a totally new light--and yet it's so easy and simple. The boring veggie here in question is green beans, no one's favorite vegetable. Yes, you technically like the standard French green beans topped with almonds that you get as a side in many restaurants. You probably have fond memories of green bean casserole topped with fried onions at your Thanksgiving table growing up. But otherwise, green beans are ho-hum and not that exciting to cook with. The secret to making exciting green beans is braising. Braising is a cooking method in which you start by sauteing in oil and move on to lightly simmering in liquid for a long time. This double process seems laborious but in the case of green beans, it brings out its natural sweetness and makes its texture so hearty, almost "meaty," and satisfying. You'll love the combination of umami and sweet flavors that braising creates. And yet it's so much healthier than the green bean casserole! I'm a comfort food lover, but I much prefer this to that casserole dish. Try it and see if you agree with me!