Green Beans with Almonds Lemon (Printable)

Crisp green beans enhanced with toasted almonds and fresh lemon create a bright, satisfying side dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
02 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Nuts

03 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds

→ Seasonings & Others

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - Zest of 1 lemon
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain well and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add the sliced almonds. Toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Transfer almonds to a small bowl and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add the drained green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat in the oil and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
05 - Remove from heat. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and toasted almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine. Serve immediately, garnished with additional lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way the lemon wakes up everything else on the plate without demanding attention
  • That crunch of almonds against tender beans makes people pause and ask what you did differently
02 -
  • The ice bath step is nonnegotiable for that restaurant-quality bright green color
  • Almonds can go from perfect to burnt in literally ten seconds, so stay right there
03 -
  • Dry your beans really well after the ice bath or they'll steam instead of sauté
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest, you want those tiny aromatic flecks, not bitter white pith

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