Green Beans Lemon Almonds (Printable Version)
Tender green beans combined with zesty lemon and crunchy toasted almonds for a bright, easy side.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
→ Nuts
02 - ½ cup sliced almonds
→ Aromatics & Seasonings
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or olive oil for vegan)
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced
05 - 1 lemon, zest and juice
06 - ½ tsp sea salt, or to taste
07 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 2–3 minutes until just tender and bright green. Drain and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add sliced almonds and toast, stirring frequently, until golden (about 2 minutes).
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add the drained green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat with butter, almonds, and garlic. Add the lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for another 2–3 minutes, stirring, until beans are heated through and well coated.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra toasted almonds if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The way lemon wakes up everything without being too aggressive
- How toasted almonds turn something simple into something you cant stop eating
- Takes twenty minutes start to finish but tastes like you tried harder
02 -
- The ice water bath stops the cooking cold—skip it and your beans will keep cooking into mush
- Lemon zest is the MVP here, use a microplane or the smallest holes on your grater
03 -
- Toast your nuts in a dry pan first, then add butter—keeps them from scorching
- Room temperature lemons yield more juice, so let them sit out while you prep everything else