Lemon Garlic Green Beans Almonds (Print)
Fresh green beans combined with lemon, garlic, and crunchy toasted almonds for a vibrant side.
# Ingredient list:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
→ Nuts
03 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds
→ Seasonings & Fats
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Citrus
07 - Zest of 1 lemon
08 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and blanch for 2–3 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain well and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, toast the sliced almonds, stirring often, until golden and fragrant (about 2 minutes). Remove from skillet and set aside.
03 - Add olive oil to the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, but not browned.
04 - Add the drained green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat in the garlic oil and sauté for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
05 - Season with salt and pepper. Add lemon zest and juice, tossing to combine.
06 - Sprinkle toasted almonds over the green beans and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These green beans taste restaurant fancy but take literally 20 minutes from start to finish
- The combination of zesty lemon, aromatic garlic, and crunchy almonds transforms an ordinary vegetable into something guests will actually ask for seconds of
02 -
- Do not skip the ice water bath after blanching. It stops the cooking instantly and keeps that gorgeous bright green color instead of letting them turn dull olive colored.
- Work quickly once you start cooking the garlic. Thirty seconds might seem short, but garlic goes from fragrant to burned faster than you expect.
03 -
- Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid the bitter white pith underneath
- Toast the nuts in a dry pan without any oil so they get evenly golden without greasy spots