A simple side dish is all you need at times, and lemon garlic green beans is most certainly a simple side dish. 

I’m a fan of mixing textures, so along with the lemon and garlic in these beans, I added some toasted almonds, totally makes this dish for me.

 

Lemon Garlic Green Beans by Diverse Dinners

 

It’s amazing how wonderful a few ingredients can taste – sautéd, drenched, tossed and toasted. Just like magic, you have something beautiful to share.

There were a lot more beans on this plate when I first started to shoot them. Not surprisingly, the lemon and garlic scent kept wafting, taunting me until I started to pick at these lemon garlic green beans, one after another, after another. I’m glad I had just enough restraint to get a pic to share with you.

The secret to cooking greens beans that have bite and still hold their green color, is to halt the cooking process once they are tender. A bowl of ice water should be ready to bathe the beans in until they cool, only then will the cooking process stop.

Cooking green beans is therapeutic to me. I always feel as if I’m nurturing the beans into a tasty presentation. The final result is a gorgeous side dish full of nutrients. Clean eating at its best.

 

Print Recipe

Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time11 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb green beans trimmed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic sliced
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp almond slices toasted

Equipment & Utensils

  • 1 medium sauce pan
  • Colander
  • Bowl of ice water
  • 1 medium sauté pan

Instructions

  • Fill a saucepan to 2/3 its volume with water.
  • Add salt until you are able to taste the salt, then heat the water on high until bubbling.
  • Add the beans and leave uncovered.
  • Cook until beans are tender but still have bite (approx. 6 mins)
  • Tip beans into a colander and allow to drain.
  • Then immediately transfer them into the ice water until the beans are cool.
  • Drain the beans, and set aside.
  • Heat oil in sauté pan on medium heat, then add butter.
  • As the butter begins to melt add garlic and sauté until golden.
  • Remove from heat and add beans and toss.
  • Add lemon juice and toss once more, then transfer to serving plate.
  • Sprinkle with almonds and serve immediately.

Notes

To toast almonds, simply sprinkle a layer of almond slices on a baking sheet.
Place in a preheated oven at 450 for approx. 1 min.
Allow to cool before using in a recipe.