Italian-Style Braised Green Beans

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Serves 4 to 6

Cooking Time 8 to 9 hours on Low or 5 to 6 hours on High

Slow Cooker Size 5½ to 7 Quarts

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Slowly braising green beans turns them incredibly tender and infuses them with big flavor. The Italian take on this method calls for adding tomatoes, garlic, and onion for a robustly flavored side dish. We found that a can of crushed tomatoes provided a bold tomato presence and guaranteed a sauce with the right consistency. Chopped onion and minced garlic gave the dish an aromatic backbone, and dried thyme offered woodsy notes. For a subtle heat, we included a small amount of red pepper flakes. Microwaving our aromatics briefly worked to jump-start their cooking and deepen their flavor in short order. For meaty richness and smoky notes, we included two strips of bacon; microwaving them with the aromatics helped to render some of their fat so we didn’t need any oil. We then removed the spent bacon slices at the end of the cooking time. Our Italian-style braised green beans boast a velvety texture and deep flavor, and best of all, they are practically effortless. See the sidebar that follows the recipe.

1	cup chopped onion
2	slices bacon
1	tablespoon minced garlic
	Salt and pepper
½	teaspoon dried thyme
⅛	teaspoon red pepper flakes
1	(28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2	pounds green beans, trimmed

1. Microwave onion, bacon, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, thyme, and pepper flakes in bowl, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, then add green beans and toss to coat. Cover and cook until green beans are tender, 8 to 9 hours on low or 5 to 6 hours on high.

2. Remove bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve. (Green beans can be held on warm or low setting for up to 2 hours.)