Description
A quick and flavorful weeknight side dish featuring crisp-tender green beans steamed in garlic butter and topped with crunchy toasted almonds. Ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds fresh green beans
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the green beans thoroughly, trim off the woody ends, and pat them dry.
- Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat and toast the sliced almonds for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.
- Add the green beans to the skillet and toss to coat in the garlic butter. Pour in the water and immediately cover with a lid.
- Steam the beans for 8-10 minutes until tender-crisp. Check at 8 minutes to ensure they haven’t become mushy.
- Remove the lid. If any water remains, turn up the heat for 30 seconds to evaporate it.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice if using.
- Toss in half of the toasted almonds and serve immediately, topped with the remaining almonds.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if making a large quantity. Toast almonds on medium-low heat to prevent burning. For a vegan version, swap butter for olive oil or vegan butter. If using frozen beans, thaw and drain thoroughly before cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 of
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 3
Keywords: green beans, garlic butter, toasted almonds, side dish, vegetarian, gluten-free, quick dinner, healthy vegetables, weeknight meals