Green Beans Toasted Almonds Lemon (Printable)

Crisp green beans with toasted almonds and zesty lemon combine for a fresh, vibrant side dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
02 - 1 clove garlic, minced
03 - Zest of 1 lemon
04 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

→ Nuts

05 - ½ cup sliced almonds

→ Pantry

06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
08 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes, until just tender and bright green. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain again 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 to a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
04 - Add the drained green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat and warm through, about 2 minutes.
05 - Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and sprinkle with toasted almonds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast of crunch against tender beans creates the most satisfying texture in every single forkful
  • It comes together in twenty minutes flat but tastes like something from a restaurant kitchen
  • Lemon wakes up everything on the plate, making even the most basic weeknight dinner feel special
02 -
  • The ice water step is not optional, it is what keeps your beans bright green instead of sad and army colored
  • Toasting almonds ahead of time and storing them separately is perfectly fine, but they lose their magic after about three days
  • Adding the lemon juice off the heat keeps it from becoming harsh or cooking off too quickly
03 -
  • Dry your beans thoroughly after the ice bath or they will steam instead of getting a nice warm coating in the skillet
  • Microplane your zest directly into the pan to capture all those fragrant oils that usually end up on your cutting board

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