Description
Green Beans Almondine from Ina Garten elevates simple ingredients into a luxurious side dish. Crisp green beans meet toasted almonds in a buttery embrace, promising a delectable companion to any main course you’ll savor with delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) green beans, preferably haricot verts, trimmed
Topping and Nuts:
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, plus more for seasoning
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Initiate water preparation by filling a large pot with water, generously seasoning with salt, and bringing to a rolling boil. Simultaneously, create an ice bath in a separate bowl to halt cooking process.
- Carefully submerge green beans into vigorously boiling water for precisely 120 seconds, ensuring crisp-tender texture. Swiftly transfer beans using tongs or slotted spoon directly into ice water to preserve vibrant color and prevent overcooking.
- Drain blanched green beans completely and pat dry using clean kitchen towels, allowing excess moisture to evaporate.
- Select a cast-iron skillet and heat over medium flame. Distribute raw almonds evenly across dry surface, gently toasting for 2-3 minutes until achieving a golden-brown complexion and releasing nutty aromatics. Remove toasted almonds and reserve.
- Reduce skillet temperature, introducing olive oil and thinly sliced shallots. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, sautéing until shallots become translucent and delicately softened.
- Incorporate dried green beans into shallot mixture, stirring consistently for 2-4 minutes to ensure uniform heating and maintaining optimal tenderness.
- Extinguish heat source, introducing freshly grated garlic and bright lemon juice. Thoroughly toss ingredients, seasoning with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper according to preference.
- Transfer aromatic green bean mixture to elegant serving vessel, garnishing with previously toasted almonds. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Impress dinner guests with a sophisticated French-inspired side dish that transforms humble green beans into a culinary showstopper.
- Blanching technique guarantees beans maintain their vibrant emerald color and satisfying crunch, preventing the dreaded mushy vegetable syndrome.
- Dry-pan toasted almonds unleash an irresistible nutty aroma and provide a delightful textural contrast against the tender green beans.
- Select premium green beans with a glossy, unblemished surface to ensure a picture-perfect and delicious final presentation.
- Zesty lemon juice brightens the entire dish, cutting through the rich nuttiness and adding a refreshing citrus spark.
- Delicate shallots infuse subtle complexity without overpowering the natural green bean flavor, elevating the entire culinary experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 103 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg