Description
A classic and elegant side dish featuring tender green beans sautéed with shallots and garlic, topped with toasted sliced almonds for a delightful crunch and finished with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice. Perfectly balanced with nutty, tangy, and savory flavors, this Green Beans Almondine recipe is simple to prepare and elevates any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Green Beans
- 12 ounces green beans (preferably haricot verts, trimmed)
Almonds and Flavorings
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot (thinly sliced)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (plus more for seasoning)
- 1 garlic clove (grated)
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Blanch Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water beside the stove. Add the green beans to the boiling water and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain immediately and immerse the green beans in the ice water to halt cooking. Drain again and dry thoroughly on a towel.
- Toast Almonds: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced almonds to the dry skillet and toast for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove the toasted almonds from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Shallots: Add the olive oil to the skillet and reduce the heat if necessary to avoid burning. Add the sliced shallot and ½ teaspoon sea salt, sautéing for about 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Cook Green Beans: Add the blanched green beans to the skillet and sauté for an additional 2 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are warmed through and tender but still crisp.
- Finish and Season: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the grated garlic and fresh lemon juice, tossing to combine. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and sprinkle the toasted almonds evenly on top. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This Green Beans Almondine recipe offers a perfect balance of tender green beans and crunchy toasted almonds, brightened by lemon juice.
- Using haricot verts, the thin French green beans, provides a more delicate texture and appearance, but regular green beans work well too.
- Toasting the almonds in a dry skillet enhances their nutty flavor—keep an eye on them as they can burn quickly.
- Blanching the green beans before sautéing keeps them crisp-tender and bright green.
- For added depth, you can substitute butter for olive oil or use a combination of both for richness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 3 ounces)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
