Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Toasted Almonds
In short: Green beans blanched, then sautéed in olive oil with garlic, lemon and toasted almonds. A bright, snappy side for weeknights and holidays. It takes about 22 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 22 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 175 kcal
Fresh green beans boiled briefly and then finished in a hot pan with garlic and almonds taste much better than steamed ones. The quick boil sets their color and cooks them through, while the pan gives them a little blistering and a garlicky coat. Lemon at the end keeps them bright. It is the kind of side that works on a weeknight and at a holiday meal alike.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water.
- Cook the green beans in the boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green and just tender. Drain, plunge them into the ice water for 1 minute, then drain well and pat dry. Wet beans spit in the pan.
- Toast the almonds in a large dry skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes until golden, then move them to a plate.
- Add the olive oil to the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the beans and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, tossing, until blistered in spots.
- Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant but not browned.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add the salt, pepper, lemon zest and lemon juice, toss, and scatter the almonds on top.
Tips
- Dry the beans thoroughly after blanching, or they will steam in the pan and turn dull instead of blistering.
- Blanch and chill the beans up to a day ahead, which makes this an easy holiday dish. Finish them in the pan just before serving.
Questions and answers
Can I use frozen green beans?
Yes. Skip the blanching and add them straight from frozen to the hot pan for 6 to 8 minutes. They will be softer than fresh beans.
How do I trim green beans quickly?
Line up a handful on a board and cut off the stem ends all at once with a knife. The thin tail ends do not need trimming.
How do I keep green beans bright green?
Boil them briefly in salted water and chill them in ice water. Add the lemon juice at the very end, because acid dulls the color.
How long does it take to make Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Toasted Almonds?
About 22 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Toasted Almonds?
About 175 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 14 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 175 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 340 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
