Steam-in-bag green beans make a side dish too lazy to ignore, but tonight they are the main. A skillet of bacon and garlic turns them into something you want to eat, with rice on the side to catch every drop.

Serves 2. 25 minutes, 15 at the stove.

About 700 calories a serving, 19 g protein, 101 g carbohydrate, 23 g fat. From USDA figures for 100% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

Cook mode

1. Start the rice in salted water to cook, about 15 minutes. While it goes, chop 6 slices of bacon into 1-inch pieces and place them in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook the bacon, stirring often, until crisp and the fat renders, about 8 minutes. Mince 3 cloves of garlic.
2. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat, leaving the bacon in the pan. Add the 2 tablespoons of butter and the garlic, cooking until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Microwave the steam-in-bag green beans according to package directions, then add the entire contents of the bag to the skillet. Toss with the bacon and garlic over medium heat until warmed through and coated, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.2 min
4. Divide the rice between two bowls and top with the green bean mixture, pouring all the pan juices over it.

Note Swap the bacon for 2 ounces of diced prosciutto or smoked sausage if that is what you have. Leftovers keep in the fridge for three days, reheated in the microwave. Serve with crusty bread to soak up the pan juices.