Why I love this green beans almondine recipe
If you’re looking for a simple way to dress up your holiday sides without adding extra work, Green Beans Almondine is one of my favorite recipes.
Don’t let the fancy name fool you. This dish couldn’t be easier.
It’s made with tender French green beans (fresh or frozen both work!), a squeeze of bright lemon juice, a little lemon zest, and a handful of toasted slivered almonds for just the right amount of crunch.
And the best part?
It all comes together in one pan, which is a lifesaver when every burner is already spoken for during holiday cooking.
It’s fresh, light, and flavorful, but still feels special enough for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time you want your vegetables to look a little more dressed up.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 6 servings):
- Fresh produce – 1 pound fresh or frozen French green beans, 1 lemon
- Nuts – ¼ cup unsalted toasted sliced almonds
- Oil – 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Seasoning – ½ teaspoon salt
Substitutions & Additions
- For extra flavor, sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in the oil before adding the green beans.
- If you don’t have toasted almond slices, you can use raw ones. If you like the extra crunch and flavor of toasted almonds, melt 1 Tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Then saute the almonds in it for about 5 minutes or until they are turning a little brown around the edges.
How to make green beans with almonds and lemon
1 | Prep work
Start by washing your green beans thoroughly. Then trim off the ends with a sharp knife.
Next, you’ll need lemon zest. To get the zest, use a microplane or fine grater to zest enough of the lemon skin to get about 1 teaspoon.
Finally, cut the lemon in half and juice one half of it. You should get about 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice.
If your lemon is small, or just not very juice, you may need to juice the other half.
Zesting before juicing is easier because the lemon is firmer and easier to hold.2 | Cook the beans
Pour 1 Tablespoon olive oil into a frying pan and heat it over medium-high heat.
You want the oil hot enough that it shimmers but doesn’t smoke.
When the oil is ready, add the green beans. Stir them around a bit so they’re coated with oil.
Cook for about a minute, stirring occasionally, until they turn a bright, vibrant green. This quick cooking keeps them crisp-tender and colorful.
Add a quarter cup of water to the pan. This will create steam, helping the beans cook evenly.
Cover the pan with a lid, lower the temperature to medium-low and let the beans simmer until they are tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
If the green beans are still not tender after cooking, add 2 Tablespoons more water, cover and cook for additional 1 to 3 minutes until they are.3 | Add the flavoring
Once the beans are tender, remove the lid and take the pan off the heat.
Now, add 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and ½ teaspoon salt.
Stir everything together so the beans are evenly coated with the lemon juice mixture.
4 | Serve
Transfer the beans to a serving bowl.
Add ¼ cup sliced almonds and stir so the almonds are evenly distributed.
If you like, sprinkle a little extra lemon zest on top for a fresh finishing touch.
How to make ahead
To make in advance:
- Cook the green beans as directed above until they are almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Transfer them to an airtight container or a covered dish. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
- When ready to serve, reheat in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave with a little water.
- Toss the re-heated beans with the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and almonds. Serve hot.
Green Beans Almondine
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound fresh green beans washed and trimmed
- ¼ cup water
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted toasted sliced almonds
Equipment
- Paring knife
- cutting board
- lemon zester
- lemon juicer
- measuring cups and spoons
- frying pan with a lid
- mixing spoon
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat.1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Add green beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until they turn bright green. About 1 minute.1 pound fresh green beans
- Add ¼ cup water.¼ cup water
- Cover and cook on medium-low until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Uncover and remove from the burner.
- Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Stir until the beans are well coated.2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon salt
- Transfer to a serving bowl and add almonds. Stir to combine.¼ cup unsalted toasted sliced almonds
- Garnish with additional lemon zest, if desired.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in the oil before adding the green beans.
- If you don’t have toasted almond slices, you can use raw ones. If you like the extra crunch and flavor of toasted almonds, melt 1 Tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Then saute the almonds in it for about 5 minutes or until they are turning a little brown around the edges.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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