Lemon Garlic Green Beans (Print)
Bright, crisp green beans tossed with zesty lemon, fragrant garlic, and toasted almonds—an easy, flavorful side dish.
# Ingredient list:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
→ Aromatics
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
04 - Zest of 1 lemon
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
→ Nuts
06 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds
→ Seasonings
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add sliced almonds. Toast, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, but not browned.
04 - Add green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat with garlic and oil. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
05 - Add lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Toss well to combine.
06 - Sprinkle toasted almonds over the green beans just before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These beans maintain their vibrant green color and perfect texture even when made ahead, a total lifesaver when youre juggling multiple dishes for dinner parties.
- The combination of zesty lemon, nutty almonds and garlic creates flavor layers that even vegetable skeptics cant resist.
02 -
- Blanching the beans for exactly the right time is critical - test one at 3 minutes by biting into it.
- Adding the lemon juice while the pan is still hot but removed from heat creates the perfect balance of cooked and fresh flavor profiles.
03 -
- Salt your blanching water until it tastes like the sea - properly salted water is the difference between bland and vibrant green beans.
- Save time by using kitchen shears to trim multiple beans at once, lining them up with ends facing the same direction.