German Yellow Beans

4.90 from 39 votes

Tangy and sweet and loaded with authentic German flavor, these German Yellow Beans celebrate yellow string beans. Easy to make and a tasty twist on German potato salad, this bean side dish is delicious!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: European, German

Keyword: bean side dishes, German yellow beans, yellow beans

Servings: servings

Calories: 91kcal

Author: Chef Jenn

Ingredients

1.5 pounds yellow beans stem end trimmed
3-4 slices bacon chopped
½ cup red onion
1 tablespoon white sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped dill
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook the beans in a pot of salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
Cook the bacon until crisp and set it aside on paper towel to drain. Discard all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
Cook the red onion over medium heat in the reserved bacon fat until soft, about 3 minutes.
Add the reserved bean cooking liquid to the skillet with the red onion and simmer to reduce by about half.
Add the sugar, cider vinegar, salt and pepper, and dill.
Heat through, then add the beans and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips

Use fresh yellow beans for the best texture and flavor. You can use frozen beans, but prepare them according to the package directions.
Don’t overcook the beans! There’s nothing worse than mushy beans.
Be careful when adding the cooking liquid to the skillet so it doesn’t spit and splatter.
Adjust the sugar and vinegar to suit your taste, balancing the sweet and tangy aspects.
Fresh dill puts this recipe over the top and adds authentic flavor. Don’t skip it if you can help it!

Nutrition