Fresh green beans sautéed with butter and almonds and finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice makes a delicious green bean almondine!
This vegetable side dish is perfect for family dinners, guests and holiday dinners.
Why make this recipe
We all need a great recipe that is easy to make, but really pulls an entire meal together. These green beans with almonds is that dish!
Fresh green bean almondine is perfect for an elegant dinner or a casual get together. These green beans are easy to make and you will impress your guests and your family.
Almondine simply means with almonds. The word amandine also describes dishes cooked with almonds. Why the difference? Almondine is typically used in the US while amandine is European.
Key ingredients
- Fresh green beans
- Butter
- Garlic - minced
- Sliced almonds
- Lemon juice - fresh squeezed
Step by step directions
Trim the green beans
- Grab a handful of beans
- Line up one end of green beans
- Cut off the stem part of the bean
- Turn around to other side
- Cut off the tail end of the bean
Blanch the beans
- Blanch in a pot of boiling water for 4-5 minutes
- Remove from boiling water and add to a large bowl filled with ice water
Prepare beans
- Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In same pan, add garlic and cook for a minute over medium heat
Add beans. Saute for 3-5 minutes until beans are heated through.
- Add almonds and stir
- Turn off heat and squeeze fresh lemon juice over beans.
Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Recipe tips
- Do not overcook beans when blanching. You want them to be al dente and still have a bit of bite to them.
- Be certain to drain all excess water from the beans
- Prepare beans just before serving. These beans are best served hot.
Make ahead Tips
I often get as much done ahead of time, especially when serving guests or for a holiday menu. Here are my make ahead tips:
- Wash and trim beans
- Blanch beans in boiling water and then place into an ice bath
- Drain beans
- Place beans in a covered container and refrigerate until needed
- Toast almonds in a saute pan without any butter. Toast just until browned. Remove from pan right away to keep from browning. Store at room temperature until needed.
- Follow remaining steps in recipe, eliminating browning the almonds in butter
Recipe Faqs
Yes, the leftovers can be reheated either in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or for 1 minute in the microwave.
You can blanch the beans up to two days ahead of time. The almonds can be toasted several days ahead of time.
Serving suggestions
Green bean almondine goes great with these dishes:
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my vegetable recipes here!
Green Bean Almondine
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans (washed and trimmed)
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ lemon
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook beans for 4-5 minutes in boiling water. Water should be at a rolling boil before you add beans.1 pound fresh green beans
- Drain beans in a colander and then cool in a bowl of cold water. Once cooled drain beans again. Remove all excess water from beans.
- In a large saute pan, melt butter. Once melted add almonds.¼ cup butter, ¼ cup sliced almonds
- Cook over low heat until slightly browned. 3-4 minutes. Remove almonds.
- In same pan add garlic and beans.2-3 cloves garlic
- Continue cooking until beans are heated through.
- Add almonds and stir.
- Turn off heat, squeeze ½ lemon over top.½ lemon
- Add salt and pepper to taste.salt and pepper
- Serve immediately
Video
Notes
- Wash and trim beans
- Blanch beans in boiling water and then place into an ice bath
- Drain beans
- Place beans in a covered container and refrigerate until needed
- Toast almonds in a saute pan without any butter. Toast just until browned. Remove from pan right away to keep from browning. Store at room temperature until needed.
- Follow remaining steps in recipe, eliminating browning the almonds in butter
- Do not overcook beans when blanching. You want them to be al dente and still have a bit of bite to them.
- Be certain to drain all excess water from the beans
- Prepare beans just before serving. These beans are best served hot.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in December of 2015. The pictures have been updated and a video has been added.
Green Bean Almondine Recipe Adapted From Fine Cooking.
Anneke De Clerk says
I make a similar version of this all the time. Never knew it was called Almondine. Learned something new today! Thanks for sharing!
Dan says
What does blanching do for the beans rather than sauteing right from the start? Just curious.
Kathy says
Hi Dan, Blanching the beans helps maintain the color and texture of the beans.
Fred G says
Great combo of ingredients.
Kiki says
Made this for our Christmas dinner of fresh deer loin and baked potatoes. SO delicious! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for sharing.
Kathy says
Thank you!
Karen Morris says
Awesome and easy side dish. Made it for Christmas dinner along with Beef Wellington.
Kathy says
Wonderful! So glad you loved it! 🙂
Adina says
I love green beans, but I have never added almonds, I am sure this dish tastes even better this way.
Kathy says
It is very delicious!
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
I see that you are gearing up for the upcoming holiday period. Whether it's called 'almondine' or 'amandine'- it all sounds good to me!
Joan P. Woolf says
One spelling being "American" and one being "European", both correct.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
A great, easy dish for the upcoming holidays Kathy! I'm pinning this one and making for sure!
Dawn says
Green beans are one of my fave side dishes. And, really, how can you go wrong when you serve 'em with butter, lemon and almonds? I could eat a whole lot of these for sure!! Suddenly my 'side' becomes a meal, lol.
David @ Spiced says
Reading through this post totally got me excited about Thanksgiving side dishes! I'm all about the side dishes, and this green bean almondine sounds like it would be the perfect addition to the menu this year. My mom used to make a similar dish back when I was a kid, but I haven't had it in years! Thanks for sharing, Kathy!