How To Make Green Beans The Southern Way

Green beans are some of the most nutritious and versatile veggies out there. They shine when added to Asian-style stir-frys, or as the perfect side when sauteed and steamed for fork-tender results. Even canned green beans can be easily spruced up with simple ingredients. For a different twist, why not have a go at preparing them Southern-style? To find out how, Food Republic consulted Kimberly L., former chef and founder of the Fifth Fork kitchenware brand, who explains that Southern green beans stand out because of their unique cooking method, alongside a few secret ingredients.

"Southern-style green beans are cooked until they are soft, boiled in water, broth, or a combination of both," Kimberly tells us. For a gentler, more classic approach, you can instead simmer your beans in water or stock. For extra soft Southern-style beans, simmer for up to an hour. Make sure to trim the tough ends and add a pinch of salt and pepper for extra flavor. If the beans turn gray and limp, it's a sign they've overcooked. For an added savory depth, simmer in chicken or vegetable broth, remembering that homemade stock is always better than store-brought!

"The key defining ingredient to Southern green beans is bacon fat. This not only adds flavor but a hint of seasoning from the salty bacon," Kimberly adds. Bacon fat is a tried-and-tested hero in Southern-style cooking. From fried-green tomatoes to collard greens, it adds a smoky depth that defines the flavor of authentic soul food.

Southern-style green beans are all about the rich, smoky flavors and tender texture. With a few simple techniques and the right Southern-style seasonings, you will be able to transform everyday green beans into this beloved Southern side dish. 

"I will chop several slices of bacon and lightly saute them in the pan until most of the fat is rendered but stopping well short of having cripsy bacon," Kimberly L. tells us. To get the most fat from the bacon, place it in a cold pan and cook slowly over very low heat with no added oil. This method takes a bit longer, but the fat gradually renders into the pan without evaporating, cooking the bacon in its own grease. "Then I add my green beans, chopped into lengths of approximately 1.5 to 2 inches long. Then I will cover with a mixture of water and vegetable stock, season with salt and generous amounts of cracked black pepper. The pepper is another key flavor that must be there," Kimberly advises.

For additional authentic Southern flavors, add classic aromatics before adding your water or stock. You could saute yellow onions, red pepper, and garlic in the bacon grease to build a strong flavor base, even steeping the oil with commonly used herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano. You can also enhance the profile of the dish with classic Southern-style seasonings like garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, or Cajun seasonings for an extra punch of flavor. 

Cooking Southern-style green beans can be done by any home chef, but if you skip key ingredients, over- or under-season them, or get your timings wrong, the dish can quickly falter. "The most important mistake to avoid is omitting bacon and bacon fat," Kimberly L. tells us. Bacon is essential in achieving that rich, smoky flavor that is the backbone of this dish. For a vegetarian-friendly alternative, you could consider adding liquid smoke instead. 

It's important to make sure you allow the seasoning (salt and pepper) to cook for several minutes before adding more. "You have to give it time to incorporate into the flavor and then taste before deciding if you need more salt or pepper," Kimberly explains. While it's tempting to go heavy on the seasonings, especially in Southern-style cooking, where bold flavors are common, you'll get the best results with this dish by taking a less-is-more approach when you add that first sprinkle of seasonings. "It can easily be over-salted and end up inedible," Kimberly says. "Additionally, not enough pepper will leave the green beans bland as well. The key to making sure your green beans have the right balance of seasoning (salt and pepper) ... is to taste, taste, taste all through the cooking process."

Texture is another important component of Southern-style green beans. The ideal texture is soft and fork-tender. "Don't continue to simmer once they are cooked through, you will end up with mush," Kimberly warns. To keep the beans warm after cooking, turn the heat off and cover the pot using a lid or aluminum foil to trap the heat, or reheat gently over a low heat without adding any more water.