Green Beans Almondine consists of tender crisp sautéed beans topped with buttery almonds. This classic French side dish is easy, elegant, and mouthwateringly delicious.
My husband and I have been making green beans amandine for about as long as we’ve been married. As young newlyweds, we subscribed to multiple cooking magazines and loved to try out new recipes. We felt very fancy and gourmet when we paired this elegant side with some Chicken Dijon.
Now let’s talk about that name for a second. The original name of this dish is Green Beans Amandine, and the French Canadian running through my blood makes me want to honor that.
But of course it has been anglicized and Americanized to a more recognizable Green Beans Almondine. That way, most non-Francophones know that it’s made with almonds. I get it!
However you decide to spell it and pronounce it, it’s a must make dish. It’s great any time of year but I highly recommend adding it to your list of Keto Thanksgiving Recipes.
Why you will love this recipe
Crisp green beans, browned butter, toasted nuts, and garlic. What’s not to love in that ingredient list?
But the French are smart cooks and they recognize that good fresh produce doesn’t need much to make it shine. That’s why this dish is also easy to prepare. A few moments to blanch the beans gives them that crispness that yields to the bite. Sautéing the almonds in butter as it browns produces a luscious flavor and color. A little lemon squeezed over adds a bright and tangy touch.
And all of that takes less than 20 minutes, start to finish!
Green Beans Almondine is also low carb and fits well in the keto diet. With only 4.5g net carbs per serving, you can add this easy keto side dish to your favorite meals.
Ingredients you need
- Fresh green beans: Don’t you dare even think about using frozen beans for this recipe. Green bean amandine must be made with fresh, crispy beans for the best results.
- Butter: I recommend salted butter for this recipe, and then adding salt to taste at the very end of the dish.
- Almonds: Many recipes call for sliced almonds but I’ve always preferred slivered. They don’t brown as quickly when you cook them in the butter so there is less risk of burning them.
- Garlic: Nothing compares to fresh garlic in the sauce. I really do not recommend garlic powder.
- Lemon: A little squeeze of lemon at the very end of cooking adds a bright finish to the flavor.
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (optional)
Step by Step Directions
1. Set up an ice bath: Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with water and ice.
2. Blanch the beans: Once the water in the saucepan is boiling, add the beans and allow to cook for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. If they are the thin French-style beans, cook only 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the beans from the water with tongs and add directly to the ice bath to halt the cooking process.
3. Sauté the almonds: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the slivered almonds and sauté in the butter until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook another 30 seconds.
4. Add the beans: Drain the green beans in a sieve and add to the pan. Toss to coat in the butter and sauté one minute to warm through.
5. Season to taste Add the lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
Don’t skip the ice bath! Trust me, I have made this recipe multiple ways and blanching the green beans is the best way. Blanching requires you to boil them quickly and then transfer them to ice water to halt the cooking process. It really does produce the perfect tender-crisp texture.
Watch your almonds carefully and stir frequently. Like any nuts subjected to high heat, they can go from a lovely golden brown to burnt very quickly.
Season to taste at the very end. Salt is so much of a personal preference, so use a light hand. Then allow your family or guests to salt their own at the table.
Allergic to almonds? Try chopped hazelnut or pecans instead. Both would be delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Amandine is a French word that refers to a dish cooked with almonds. The term has been modified to almondine for most American audiences. Green beans amandine or almondine contains almonds that are sautéed in butter with seasonings like garlic or shallots.
Blanching the green beans prior to sautéing ensures the perfect tender-crisp texture and a bright, fresh flavor. This keeps the beans from becoming overcooked and mushy in the final dish.
This recipe for green beans with almonds has 7.4g of carbs and 2.9g of fiber per serving. That means it has 4.5g net carbs per serving, making it a perfect keto side dish.
More easy keto side dish recipes
Green Beans Almondine Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (453.59 g) fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup (36 g) slivered almonds
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, (optional)
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with water and ice.
- Once the water in the saucepan is boiling, add the beans and allow to cook for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. If they are the thin French-style beans, cook only 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the beans from the water with tongs and add directly to the ice bath to halt the cooking process.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the slivered almonds and sauté in the butter until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook another 30 seconds.
- Drain the green beans in a sieve and add to the pan. Toss to coat in the butter and sauté one minute to warm through.
- Add the lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Fantastic and easy. Made with lamb chops for Easter dinner.