Browned Butter Green Beans are fresh, delicious, and just special enough to be worthy of a holiday meal! This post was sponsored by Kikkoman Soy Sauce.
Readers of this blog may have noticed I rarely cook with green beans–but long time readers who really pay attention may also have noticed that plain blanched green beans are in the background of an awful lot of photos. That is because we adore green beans, but we like them fresh and crisp-tender, bright green and plain. My kids, as a matter of fact, will eat them out of the fridge all summer long as a favorite snack. And they always disappear quickly from our holiday tables–my entire family adores green beans (although we do argue over how cooked they should be). So when I was asked about creating a holiday recipe with Kikkoman Soy Sauce, the first thing I thought of was gussying up our beloved green beans for a holiday meal while still keeping them the fresh focus of the dish.
This dish succeeded beyond my wildest imagination. It was that good. The sauce is more of a glaze, lightly clinging to each bean, not drowning the dish. It is only 3 ingredients, butter, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, but each one is powerful, and they come together to create something more. Sweet, nutty, savory, the glaze complements the green beans without overtaking them. Despite its minimalism, the browned butter ensures that the glaze is special, “fancy” enough to serve alongside your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas roast beast! The soy sauce and vinegar keep the browned butter from being cloying.

- 1½ lbs green beans, ends trimmed and rinsed
- ½ cup water
- 1 T Kikkoman Soy Sauce
- ½ T balsamic vinegar
- 2 T unsalted butter
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This is a very simple dish, but it is easiest and quickest done with 2 pans. Heat one large pan (use either a skillet or a shallow pot) over medium high heat and place the green beans in it. Add the water and cover the pan. Reduce heat to medium. While the beans steam, turn your attention to the glaze.
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Measure out the soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, and place them beside the cooktop.
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Heat a medium pan that you are comfortable using to watch butter for browning in (I prefer stainless steel, as I might miss the butter burning in a dark bottomed pan). Add the butter on medium high heat. When it is melting, start to whisk it. Keep whisking, nearly constantly, as the butter browns. You are looking for a rich mahogany brown, but you do not want a single black fleck (black indicates burnt), so as soon as it is fragrant with nutty caramel notes and browned, turn off the heat, stand back, and add the soy sauce and vinegar (be careful! It will seriously froth and spit at first). As soon as it is safe to come back closer to the cooktop, whisk the sauce until it is incorporated.
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Return your attention to the beans: lift the cover and use tongs to toss the beans. There should still be water at the bottom of the pan--if it is dry, add a tablespoon or 2 more. The beans should be mostly done--but if you like your beans more done, return the cover, and continue to steam them.
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When they are very close to however done you like them, remove the cover, increase the heat to medium high, and pour the browned butter mixture over the beans (use a rubber spatula to get all of it). Toss the beans with tongs. When the beans are fully cooked--should just be a matter of minutes-- remove the beans with a tong to a serving platter or bowl. Whisk the remaining sauce. Depending on how much water was in the pan, either let some of the water cook off or immediately drizzle the sauce that was left behind over the beans.
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These beans can be served hot, but I thought they were fantastic warm, so they can sit for a few minutes.
My favorite way is by making green bean casserole.
https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/803558270615113732
I like to saute them in butter… I know it kills the healthiness of them, but they’re oh so good!
My favorite way to cook green beans is to put them in my steamer and then add a little butter at the end.
https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/803682806916386816
Sounds delicious, Laura! We are like you and I just came home with some half an hour ago. But when I do truly cook them, it is almost always to sauté them with olive oil, salt, and CRAZY amounts of chopped garlic. Sometimes we add tomato sauce to the mix, too, and serve over rice. We still stop when they’re bright green, though.
I love to pan fry green beans and season them with sesame oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar and a little sugar.
tweet – https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/803770879050215424
I like my green beans cooked in a steamer and I add some butter and sliced almonds. Thanks so much.
I love green beans too. One of my favorite ways to prepare them is to serve them with chopped macadamia nuts and cream.
My favorite way is Garlicy Greenbeans from Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without. I steam and then sautée with a ton of garlic.
I like to make buttery garlic green beans.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/804452826021625856
I prepare my green beans with pieces of onions and ham mixed in.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/804491686843940865
I blanch whole green beans, drain and add to a fresh tomato based dish that my husbands family calls “Green Beans with Lamb and Rice” – I brown cubed lamb, blanch whole tomatoes take off skins and hand crush into a deep stock pot add the lamb, green beans and tomato paste. Season with salt, pepper and a little cinnamon. Simmer for an hour or so with out stirring much. Serve over your favorite rice!
My favorite way to cook green beans is with some olive oil, butter and sliced almonds
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/804537079816421376
i just saute them in olive oil with garlic.
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/804996991956549632
I love making my green beans in my French Onion Green Bean casserole. So delicious!
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/805039945056301057
we love buttery garlic green beans!
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/805044310471245825
I like to pan fry them with olive oil.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/805062204114538496
I like steamed green beans with butter
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/805148315469758464
My favorite way is with olive oil and seasonings.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/mommysweetiepie/status/805151536019976192
I like garlic roasted green beans with almonds.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/805209985890263040
I like them with lemon. That’s how they are cooked at my favorite Greek restaurant.
I like to saute them in butter and add almonds
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/807745811538907137
Yum! I think this might be my new favorite way! I’ve only ever just sauteed them in butter w/ some salt & pepper, but this looks delicious! 🙂
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/809518132238786560
I love to cook green beans with toasted garlic and almonds! Yum.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/810899905317314564
I like to cook fresh green beans with bacon and a little brown sugar. They go really well with ham and cheesy potatoes.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Michael64263870/status/811009256292028416
I usually coat my green beans with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast them in the oven.
I shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/811627029674262528.
I like them with garlic and parmesan
tweet – https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/811809949302988800
I like green beans with caramelized onions and almonds.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/812159733280829441
i like to cook mine with bacon
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/812878737066881025
I like to make a green bean salad with garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/813404822577840129
in butter and montreal seasoning
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/813496797003923460
I like my green beans with butter.
I like to saute them with crumbled bacon.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/813551959294746625
i’ve also been using butter lately
My fav way to cook green beans is to get fresh or frozen fresh beans and put them in a huge stock pot of water. I boil them for a couple of hours with minced garlic, onion, oregano, and EVOO. SO good!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/814510830012207104
I love to cook my green beans with vinegar and seasoned salt!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/814893992836026368
I like steamed green beans with butter
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/815032777829744640
I love roasting green beans with sliced baby potatoes and carrots!
I like to fry them with bacon
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/815301691721523200
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
#SweepstakesEntry- comment
favorite way is sauteed in garlic & butter
kacor7@hotmail.com
my #SweepstakesEntry tweet:
https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/815304410725314560
My favorite way to cook green beans it a Baked Green Beans with Bread Crumbs sprinkled on top and a hint of Garlic.
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/815310469980426240
Our favorite way to cook green beans is to roast them with some olive oil and salt. Sometimes we add some bacon too… 🙂
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/krisgan07/status/815342400834912256
I like to saute them in butter and add sliced almonds and bacon bits.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/815345413297504256
I like garlic sautéed green beans.
https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/815941429512073216
Hey I just wanted to let you know the giveaway closed on Dec. 31. But thanks for reading!