Green Beans With Caramelized Pecans - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup pecan halves, and pieces (2 ounces)
2 1/2 lbs green beans, trimmed
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup shallot, finely chopped (about 2 medium)
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Preparation

Heat oven to 350\u00b0F with rack in middle.
Spread out pecans on a rimmed sheet pan and bake in oven until pale golden on inside, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool and coarsely chop.
Have ready a colander submerged in a large bowl of ice water. Cook beans in a 6- to 8-quart pot of well-salted boiling water, uncovered, until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Using a large slotted spoon and/or tongs, transfer beans to colander in ice water to stop cooking, then drain well and dry on towels.
Heat butter in a 12- to 14-inch deep heavy skillet (preferably straight-sided) over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then add shallot and cook, stirring until pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium and stir in sugar until almost dissolved, then cook pecans, stirring, 1 minute.
Add green beans, kosher salt, and pepper, and saute beans, turning them with tongs, until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve warm.