Get ready for Green Bean Almondine to become your new favorite side! Simple and delicious, these green beans are coated in butter and garlic, and then topped with almond slivers for the perfect crunch.
What is green bean almondine?
The answer is actually hidden in the name! Green bean almondine (sometimes spelled amandine) comes from France and is a dish of green beans slathered in butter and seasoned with shallots, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Then, they're topped with toasted almond slices for the most delicious crunch!
Green bean almondine makes the perfect nutritious side. It's light and fresh, but the savory flavor makes it feel like a treat! For these reasons, it's one of my favorite side dishes!
Ingredients in green bean almondine
To make this recipe, you'll need only 8 main ingredients, including seasonings! We'll start with the beans and almonds before adding all of the flavorings.
- Green beans: First, you'll need 2lbs of cleaned and trimmed fresh green beans. Only the very ends of the beans need to be trimmed.
- Almonds: Next up is ¾ cup of smoked and salted chopped almonds. If you have a preferred almond flavor, most will work.
- Butter: 3 tablespoon of butter will be just enough to flavor up these green beans.
- Shallot: 1 small, diced shallot will taste delicious in this recipe.
- Garlic: 3 cloves of minced garlic adds lots of great flavor to the dish.
- Salt & pepper: You can't forget the salt and pepper! Use 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
- Lemon juice: Last but not least, include the juice from ½ of a lemon. You can also sprinkle some lemon zest on top of the completed recipe if you'd like!
Tools in this green beans and almonds recipe
Before you start cooking, it helps to gather the right tools so the recipe comes together smoothly. This recipe requires just a few basic kitchen essentials! Below is everything you'll need:
- Large pot
- Strainer
- Large pan
- Spatula
- Bowl
- Tongs
- Measuring cups: ½ tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, ¾ cup
How to make this easy green bean almondine recipe
Now that the ingredients and tools are gathered, let's dive in! This classic French recipe is easy. We'll start by blanching the beans, and then we'll toast the almonds, sauté the shallots, and add the seasonings!
To begin preparing this recipe, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stove. Once you have boiling water, add the green beans. Cook for 2 minutes, and then drain. Rinse with cold water and top with ice so that they can chill in an ice bath. Drain the ice water.
While the green beans are cooling, heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat to high heat. Add the chopped almonds to the pan and toast them for a few minutes, or until fragrant. Then, set them aside in a bowl.
Next, add the butter and shallot to a large pan and turn the heat to medium. Cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the shallots have begun to soften. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, and then add the green beans, salt, and pepper. Use tongs to toss to combine.
Let the green beans cook for 2-3 minutes until evenly coated. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice, tossing one more time to combine.
Serve on a platter and top with toasted almonds.
Substitution Tip
Missing an ingredient or two? Not to worry! This recipe is customizable and can be altered slightly to allow for the ingredients you have on hand.
Shallots
If you don’t have shallots, a small amount of finely chopped onion will work just as well.
Garlic
Fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but garlic powder can be used in a pinch. You'll need ¾ teaspoon total to substitute the garlic cloves (the standard substitution is ¼ teaspoon per clove).
Almonds
For a nut-free recipe, try topping the beans with toasted breadcrumbs to achieve a similar crunch!
Recipe Tips
What is the difference between amandine and almondine?
These are one in the same! Amandine is the traditional French spelling, as it refers to dishes topped with almonds (spelled "amande" in France).
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Absolutely! Swap the butter for a plant-based butter or olive oil. The flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious.
Can I use frozen green beans?
Yes, frozen regular green beans or french green beans can work in a pinch. Just be sure to thaw and drain them well before cooking to avoid excess water in the pan. Note: Fresh beans will provide the best texture and flavor.
Is green bean almondine healthy?
Green bean almondine contains nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants! Overall, it's a very well-rounded dish.
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
On the hunt for some more veggie-based recipes? These options are tasty and easy to prepare!
- Garlic Sesame Green Beans
- Healthy Green Bean Casserole
- Oven Roasted Honey Carrots
- Glazed Sweet Potatos
Recipe by Erin Antoniak and Photos by Bake and Bacon
Green Bean Almondine
Ingredients
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add green beans for 2 minutes and drain. Rinse with cold water and top with ice. Drain.
- While green beans are cooling, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped almonds to pan and toast for a few minutes or until fragrant. Set aside almonds in a bowl.
- Add butter and shallot to large pan and turn heat to medium. Cook for about 3-4 minutes or until shallots have begun to soften. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute, then add in green beans, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine using tongs.
- Let green beans cook 2-3 minutes until evenly coated. Turn off heat and add lemon juice, tossing one more time to combine.
- Serve on platter and top with toasted almonds.
Casey says
loved this recipe! made it for thanksgiving and my guests were raving. very easy to prep and the smoked almonds were the perfect touch
Erin says
Hi Casey, so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Beckie says
Perfect Thanksgiving side dish! Easy to cook green beans, toast almonds and chop shallots at home and then bring to your guest’s house to finish cooking!
Don’t skimp on the butter! Lots of flavor there. These were a big hit!
Erin says
Hi Beckie, so happy you all loved it! 🙂