Easy Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranate and Pistachios

Festive Green Beans with Pomegranate is a surefire way to add a burst of flavor and spirit to your holiday gatherings. The blend of textures, beautiful colors, and flavors makes it a crowd-pleaser, and it’s incredibly simple to prepare.

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Festive Green Beans with Pomegranate Recipe: A Holiday Side Dish

As the holiday season approaches, there’s something magical about the idea of gathering around the table with loved ones, sharing stories, and savoring delicious dishes. Whether it’s a grand Thanksgiving feast or a cozy Christmas dinner, the holiday season is all about creating memorable moments with food. For me it really isn’t a holiday meal without a form of green beans, so whether it is this recipe or my Homemade Green Bean Casserole they always have a spot of the table.

That’s where these Festive Green Beans with Pomegranate and Pistachios comes into play. This vibrant and flavorful side dish is the perfect addition to your holiday spread.

This dish is the perfect holiday side dish because:

• Visual Appeal: The combination of vibrant green beans and ruby red pomegranate seeds is visually striking and adds a pop of festive color to your table.
• Flavor Harmony: The flavors in this dish are a delightful balance of freshness and tartness, with a touch of nuttiness from the pistachios. It complements a wide range of holiday main courses, from roasted turkey to baked ham. And it is the perfect balance to some of the richer dishes on the table.
• Ease of Preparation: During the holiday season, hosts often have their hands full with various dishes. This recipe is not only delicious but also easy to prepare, giving you more time to focus on other elements of your meal.

You can serve this dish hot or cold with also ups the appeal factor. Sauté the green beans quickly right before you are about to eat or make them ahead of time and have them cold and ready to serve. Both ways are delicious!

You can also make so many variations of this dish, it really will go with whatever you are serving.

Ingredients

• Fresh Green Beans – A pound of vibrant green beans, washed and trimmed.
• Pomegranate Seeds – These ruby-red jewels add a burst of freshness and a pop of color.
• Olive Oil – For sautéing and adding a rich, savory note.
• Garlic – Sliced and sautéed for a fragrant base.
• Pistachios – Crunchy, nutty goodness that provides a delightful contrast. You can now easily find shelled pistachios at most stores.
• Salt and Pepper – For seasoning and enhancing the flavors.

For a complete detailed list of the ingredients continue towards the bottom of the page.

Instructions

Start by washing and trimming the fresh green beans, removing any stems or imperfections.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant about 1 minute, infusing the oil with a wonderful aroma.

Add the trimmed green beans along with just a bit of water (about 2 tablespoons) to the skillet and sauté them until they’re tender-crisp, which usually takes about 7-9 minutes. You want them to be vibrant and slightly crunchy, not overcooked. Once they’re ready, remove the skillet from the heat.

Now, it’s time to bring in the festive colors and textures. Toss in the pomegranate seeds and the crushed pistachios. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a dash of freshly ground pepper.

If you prefer making this ahead and serving cold (or just wanting to warm back up right before serving) I recommend keeping the green beans and mix-ins in separate containers. The pistachios might get a tad soggy if left with the green beans in a container in the fridge.