Pole beans are kind of like flat green green bean. They grow on a tall vine that needs to climb up a stake or a pole! I can't find them outside of Mississippi and haven't eaten them outside the Deep South. I just use regular fresh green beans (not the skinny French ones or any canned or frozen either). This is my mama's recipe and so, so good!
Ingredients - Servings: 6
1 & 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved (2 cups)
8 slices bacon, quartered (optional)
1 small onion chopped, red or white
5 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 & 1/2 cups cubed red potatoes
1 red pepper, sliced (optional)
1 & 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved (2 cups)
8 slices bacon, quartered (optional)
1 small onion chopped, red or white
5 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 & 1/2 cups cubed red potatoes
1 red pepper, sliced (optional)
Steps
- Wash beans and trim ends, removing strings as you go. Cut into 1 & 1/2" size pieces or just break into halves. Set aside.
- Fry bacon until crispy in a large cooking pot. Remove bacon and reserve 1/4 cup of the bacon fat.
- Sauté onions in the fat until tender.
- Add water to onion and bring to a boil. Add the bacon, beans, and seasonings.
- Return to a boil; then cover and lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add potatoes and cook until both potatoes and beans are tender.