Southern-Style Green Beans

Southern-style green beans is a traditional dish originating from the southern parts of the country. The dish is characterized by its slow (4 or more hours) cooking and a salty, smoky flavor. The dish is usually made with a combination of green beans, onions, bacon, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. The bacon is fried in a pot until crisp, and then removed. The onions and garlic are sautéed in the same pot until soft and mixed with green beans, water, salt, and sugar. A few slices of bacon are added to the pot and the dish is simmered until the green beans are very tender. The bacon is discarded and the dish is cooked until the liquid is slightly reduced. It's then seasoned with salt and pepper and served, often with crumbled bacon on top. Southern-style green beans make for a great accompaniment to fried chicken, beef, smoked sausages, barbecued ribs, or fried catfish.