Green Beans with Garlic, Almonds, & Lemon

These Green Beans with Garlic, Almonds, & Lemon are an elegant side dish for your next holiday dinner. They take only a few minutes to make and use simple ingredients, making them an easy option for a healthy yet impressive dish.

Ingredients

You’ll only need a few ingredients for these Garlic Green Beans:

• 1 lb green beans, washed and trimmed
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• butter & olive oil
• 1 lemon
• salt & pepper

While green beans have been around forever as an easy side dish, they can sometimes be boring and bland. We’ve got a few tips to help make them as delicious as possible.

1. Be careful not to overcook green beans. Tender crisp is what you’re going for here, slightly softened but still with a slight crunch.
2. Blanching green beans first helps them keep their bright green colour (see more on this below).
3. Slivered almonds are a perfect match for green beans. It adds an extra crunch, and toasting them brings out even more nutty flavour.
4. The addition of lemon zest brightens up green beans in a really delicate way. Give it a try!
5. Season, season, season! Be sure to check the salt & pepper as you cook. Never be afraid to taste your food and see what it needs.

Tools you will need:

• large saucepan
• non-stick skillet
• large bowl
• zester

How to make Green Beans with Garlic, Almonds, & Lemon

First, toast the almonds. Place the slivered almonds in a dry non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook, tossing regularly, until almonds are golden brown and toasted, and you begin to smell them roasting slightly (about 2-3 minutes). Be sure to stay right with them, they burn very easily! Transfer almonds to a bowl to cool.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Trim green beans, then add to the pot of boiling water. Boil for 1-2 minutes, then, using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer beans into the bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking process and helps ensure the beans stay a bright green colour. Drain and set aside.

Place butter and olive oil in the skillet you used to toast the almonds. Melt the butter over medium heat, then stir in chopped garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds to soften (again, watch carefully so it doesn’t burn).

Add the green beans and season with salt & pepper. Add toasted almonds and fresh lemon zest and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.

How do I keep green beans from turning brown when cooked?

Blanching green beans for a minute in boiling water and then tossing them in ice water helps green beans retain their bright green colour. If pan-frying, saute the green beans over medium-high heat after blanching to add some extra flavour. Cooking green beans for too long will reduce their texture and colour, so a few minutes is all you need.

What to serve with Green Beans with Garlic, Almonds, & Lemon

Green beans make a great side dish to all kinds of meals. We particularly enjoy them with roast chicken or beef, our Baked Ham with Honey Mustard Glaze (perfect for Easter Dinner!), or any type of fish, such as salmon or trout.

If you make this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! 

Print Recipe

Green Breans with Garlic, Almonds, & Lemon

The tender-crisp green beans are a perfect blend of fresh green beans, garlic, crunchy toasted almonds, and bright lemon. Simple enough for weeknight dinners, impressive enough for your next holiday meal!

Course: Side Dish, vegetable

Keyword: Dinner, Easter, green beans, side dish, vegetable

Ingredients

• 1 lb green beans, washed and trimmed
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• ⅓ cup slivered almonds
• 1 tsp lemon zest (zest from approx. 1 lemon)

Instructions

• First, toast the almonds. Place the slivered almonds in a dry non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook, tossing regularly, until almonds are golden brown and toasted and you begin to smell them roasting (about 2-3 minutes). Be sure to stay right with them, they burn very easily! Transfer almonds to a bowl to cool.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside.
• Trim green beans, then add to the pot of boiling water. Boil for 1-2 minutes then, using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer beans into the bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking process and helps ensure the beans stay a bright green colour. Drain and set aside.
• Place butter and olive oil in the skillet you used to toast the almonds. Melt the butter over medium heat, then stir in chopped garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds to soften (again, watch carefully so it doesn’t burn).
• Add the green beans and season with salt & pepper. Add toasted almonds and fresh lemon zest and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.

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