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Garlic Almondine Green Beans with Toasted Almonds

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If you’ve ever been to my home for dinner, chances are you’ve tasted this dish. It’s my favorite vegetable side to serve guests: fast to prepare, bright in flavor, and endlessly versatile. Garlic green beans almondine is a vibrant, elegant accompaniment for weeknight meals or dinner parties alike.

This version uses garlic for a little extra warmth and depth, which pairs especially well with rich, cold-weather mains like beef burgundy. In summer I often swap the garlic for a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of zest for a lighter, fresher finish.

I love the snap and vivid color of properly blanched green beans. I’ve prepared them in a heavy stainless pan for a small Thanksgiving gathering and, once, in batches in the microwave using frozen haricots verts during a catering emergency—serving 20 people five minutes before dinner despite the range failing. They still tasted great.

You can certainly overcook the beans until they’re soft and the flavors will remain pleasant, but the lively color and crisp texture will be lost. If you want top results, follow the simple steps below and you’ll get perfectly tender-crisp beans every time.

📖 Recipe

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Garlic Green Beans Almondine

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Author: Basil and Bubbly

Ingredients

  • 1 lb haricots verts thin French green beans
  • ¼ cup sliced blanched almonds
  • 2 medium cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Fill a large bowl with ice and water, leaving enough room to add the blanched beans.
  • Bring about 5 cups of salted water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add the beans and cook for 2 minutes, until they are tender-crisp.
  • Quickly transfer the beans to the ice bath and toss gently so they cool immediately. This stops the cooking and preserves the bright green color (this is blanching).
  • In a skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about a minute until the garlic is lightly browned and fragrant, infusing the fat with flavor.
  • Turn off the heat, drain the beans, add them to the skillet, and toss to coat in the garlic butter.
  • Sprinkle with the sliced almonds, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
Tried this recipe?Mention @basilandbubbly or tag #basilandbubbly!