Green Beans Almondine: A simple, yet impressive and flavorful way to serve fresh green beans in a lemon butter sauce.
One of my favorite vegetables growing up was canned green beans. While I have little desire to eat canned green beans now, I do still love green beans.
I love green beans simply steamed or dressed up a little, as they are in the classic recipe for Green Beans Almondine.
Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Almondine is a French dish but simply means “green beans with almonds”.
This dish is the opposite of complicated, yet it has a great presentation and a fabulous taste.
Buttery, crisp-tender green beans topped with toasted almonds for crunch and an added flavor, this side dish is almost effortless to make.
How To Make Green Bean Almondine
Step One: Blanch Green Beans
Blanching green beans is essential to this dish. Blanching just means to boil something lightly and then to shock in cold water.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil.
- Season heavily with salt–about 1 tablespoon.
- Drop green beans into boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes, or until just crisp tender.
- Remove green beans from pot with a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place immediately into an ice bath.
- The ice bath is simply a bowl of water filled with ice water. This cold water helps to shock the beans to stop the cooking process, which keeps the green beans crisp and bright green.
Step Two: Toast Almonds
You can purchase toasted sliced almonds, but it is easy to toast almonds at home and will result in the freshest flavor.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add in slivered almonds.
- Shake the pan every 30 seconds.
- As soon as your nose begins to smell the almonds, or the almonds begin to turn light brown, remove the almonds from the skillet.
Step Three: Saute Green Beans
- Remove green beans from ice bath and gently pat dry.
- In the same skillet you toasted almonds in, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add in green beans and toss to coat.
- Give the beans a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt to taste.
- Saute until warmed through, about 3-5 minutes.
Step Four: Serve
- Remove green beans from skillet and place onto a serving platter.
- Top with toasted green beans.
Green Beans Almondine with Steamed Green Beans
You can make green beans almondine with steamed green beans well. This method works great if you choose to use a bag of Frozen Green Beans that are designed to steam in the microwave or if you are starting with Instant Pot Steamed Green Beans.
- Steam green beans as directed.
- Lightly pat beans dry of excess moisture.
- Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
- Add in green beans and toss to coat.
- Give the beans a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt to taste.
- Saute until warmed through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Top with toasted almonds and serve.
Dairy Free/Vegan Green Beans Almondine
If you happen to be Vegan or Dairy Free, simply use olive oil in place of butter. Your green beans will not be a traditional French Dish, but they will still be delicious.
More Recipes with Green Beans
- Instant Pot Green Beans
- Sweet and Spicy Green Beans
- Skillet Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes
- Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
Green Beans Almondine Recipe
I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know. Or snap a picture and tag @amindfullmom on Instagram and hashtag it #amindfullmom
Green Beans Almondine
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans ends trimmed off
- 1/3 cup slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 lemon
- 1 /2 teaspoon salt plus additional salt for cooking beans
Instructions
Blanch Green Beans
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Season heavily with salt–about 1 tablespoon.
- Drop green beans into boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes, or until just crisp tender.
- Remove green beans from pot with a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place immediately into an ice bath.
Toast Almonds
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add in slivered almonds. Shake the pan every 30 seconds. As soon as your nose begins to smell the almonds, or the almonds begin to turn light brown, remove the almonds from the skillet.
- Remove green beans from ice bath and gently pat dry.
Saute Green Beans
- In the same skillet you toasted almonds in, melt butter over medium heat. Add in green beans and toss to coat.
- Give the beans a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt to taste. Saute until warmed through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove beans from skillet and place in serving dish. Top with toasted almonds.
Notes
- I often make this without the fresh lemon juice and my kids actually prefer it!
- Do not substitute jarred lemon juice for fresh lemon juice.
To Make this Recipe for Green Beans Almondine, You May Need
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Kristen Chidsey
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A delightful recipe that I serve quite often. I also modify it slightly depending on the main dish. With Cajun (blackened) halibut I’ll add 1 tsp of dark maple syrup to the pan when sautéing, to add a hint of sweetness that melds with the bite of the fish, and when serving with a classic roast chicken I’ll garnish the almondine with fried shallots. But it always starts with the simple classic!
Oh that sounds fabulous with the addition of maple! I am so glad you enjoy this recipe!
How much butter do you use. I don’t see that in the recipe.
Hi Laura, It is 2 tablespoons. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you. Very easy and helpful recipe.
I am so glad to hear that DJ! I love how easy this side is to prep as well!
By my definition, the photo shows sliced almonds, not slivered. Slivered are small, half-moon shaped.
Hi Marilyn, technically you are correct. But either variety works 😉
One of the simplest and most classic ways to make green beans. Delicious!
Thanks so much Joanne!
Love this for a holiday side dish!
Thanks so much Ashley!
Perfect holiday side dish!
Thanks Lori! It is easy and always impresses!
I love classic dishes like this they compliment so many of our favorite entrees!
Thanks Melissa! They really do taste so good with so many meals!
Looks fresh and excellent.
Thank you!! That is how I like my side dishes 🙂
Way to easy for a great side dish 😋
It can never be too easy Patrick 😉 Glad you enjoyed.