Cranberry Walnut Green Beans
Dried green beans, craisins, and walnuts rehydrated into a side that isn't beige.
- calories
- 420
- weight
- 3.2 oz
- cal / oz
- 131
- protein
- 9 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 12 min
- water
- 350 ml boiled
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Car camping
- Basecamp
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- One pot
- Dehydrate ahead
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Dried cut green beans | 1 cup | freeze-dried, or dehydrate frozen cut beans at home |
|---|---|---|
| Craisins | 1/4 cup | |
| Chopped walnuts | 3 tbsp | |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp | dropper bottle |
| Balsamic vinegar | 2 tsp | small squeeze bottle, or skip it |
| Brown sugar | 1 tsp | |
| Garlic powder, salt, black pepper | 1/2 tsp total |
Method
- Bring 350 ml of water to a boil. Add the green beans and the craisins.
- Simmer four minutes, then cut the heat and let it sit covered another five. The beans need the soak more than the boil.
- Drain off whatever water is left, or drink it. Do not leave it in the pot.
- Stir in the oil, vinegar, brown sugar, and seasoning. Toss until the beans are coated.
- Add the walnuts last so they stay crisp.
This started as a holiday side dish made with frozen green beans and an oven. The trail version keeps the parts that actually matter: beans, dried cranberries, walnuts, and a sweet-sour dressing. Frozen anything is out, so the beans go in dried and come back with hot water.
The craisins do double duty. They rehydrate alongside the beans and bleed sugar and acid into the water, which seasons the whole pot before you add anything else. The walnuts are the fat and the texture, and they are the only reason this eats like a real side and not a bowl of wet vegetable. Keep them out of the water.
Packing
Beans, craisins, sugar, and seasoning ride together in one bag. Walnuts go in their own bag; they go soft if they soak. Oil and vinegar in dropper bottles.
Variations
- Toast the walnuts in the dry pot before you boil for a bigger nut flavor.
- Swap pecans for walnuts, or drop the nuts entirely for a nut-free version.
- A spoonful of instant potato flakes turns the drained liquid into a gravy instead of a pour-off.
https://mealswithmaria.site/dollar-tree-christmas-dinner