Artichoke & Green Beans with Hot Bacon Vinaigrette

Bring this one back, again...

To accompany the Chicken Lombardy the other night, I wanted an easy, tasty side... something green with a mild vinaigrette flavor to go along yet not contrast with the wonderful sauce. I chose fresh green beans. But after starring at the trimmed beans, I thought they needed a little pick-me-up rather than the normal steam bath.

Giving a nutty flavor to the olive oil drizzle is the brown butter, also known as Beurre Noisette. And aiding to the vegetables is a flavor reminiscent of salad bars once in restaurants, popular back in the late '70's. Do you remember this dressing, especially over spinach? I thought it would be neat to bring it back, in another form. Enjoy.

Artichoke & Green Beans with Hot Bacon Vinaigrette

1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed & cut into 1-inch pieces (French haritots verts would be good)
1 -9 oz package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed or 1 -14 oz can quartered
Sea salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon minced onion or 1 1/2 teaspoons onion flakes
2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper or 1 tablespoon dried
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2-3 tablespoons chopped bacon (real bacon bits will be fine)
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (Parmesan or other hard cheese will do)

Blanch the green beans in boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Drain and plunge in ice water to stop the cooking. Drain well.

Spread the green beans in a 2-quart oblong casserole dish. Spread the drained artichoke hearts on top.

In a small saucepan over low heat, brown the butter by swirling it until the milk solids turn light brown. Remove from heat and stir in the onions and red peppers. Toss and let cool slightly.

Add the vinegar, lemon juice and bacon bits to the butter. Quickly whisk in the olive oil and drizzle over the artichokes and green beans.  Scatter the bacon, onion and peppers on top.
Allow to set for an hour or about 15 minutes before serving.

Top with a thin layer of freshly cheese and place in a 425 degree F. oven to heat and toast the cheese, about 10 minutes.

Comments

  1. Hot bacon vinaigrette!?!?!?!? Oh man. I think I've died and gone to heaven!

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  2. I have had it once and loved it, never thought to make this wonderful recipe can taste this just by the flavors!

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  3. Sounds like this is truly a die hard dish! Just take a look at Emily! She's crazy about this. I have never tried this before. But I can roughly imagine the flavour. Must be very appertizing. Thanks for posting such a lovely dish. Hope you're having a great day.
    Cheers, Kristy

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  4. Drick,
    Wow...Hot Bacon Vinaigrette on those artichoke and green beans...it must be delicious. Thanks for sharing another wonderful recipe :)

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  5. Artichoke is new to me. Would love to try.

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  6. Great dish...My sons would love the vinaigrette, especially with the browned butter :)
    Nice!

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  7. I do remember those salad bars!! Your green beans are nothing like I ever saw on any salad bars I went to! The artichokes are a wonderful addition to the beans, and I love that bacon dressing!

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  8. You had me at Hot bacon vinagrette....thanks for sharing, yummy

    sweelife

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  9. Yes, yes - bring back the bacon vinaigrette - although I always had it on a southern wilted spinach salad! Equally delicious on fresh green beans I'm sure!

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  10. Third time trying to comment, dear friend! Error 305 again!! You sure have a wonderful way with veggies and these green beans look fab and the hot bacon vinaigrette is to die for, cher! Loved your Lombardy Chicken, too! Cheers!

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  11. Oh, Drick, my husband would love to be eating at your house right now. You have all his favorite ingedients! I'm a big fan of frozen artichokes. Relatively inexpensive, and they've trimmed them for me. :)

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  12. Beautiful flavors! Gonna try this one for sure, artichokes and green beans, I'm SOLD!

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  13. Hot bacon vinaigrette - those are beautiful words! What a great way to spice up artichokes & green beans.

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  14. Green beans and artichokes are my 2 favorite vegetables...and you can't go wrong with anything bacon. Delicious :)

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  15. bacon... gives everything flavour. I need to start cooking with artichokes. It is in season here.

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