Green Beans Almondine is a classic French recipe consisting of sautéed greens beans and onion, toasted almonds and a squeeze of lemon. It's bright, citrusy and nutty for a healthy side dish.  It may sound fancy, but this recipe is incredibly approachable and can be paired with just about everything. Made in a single skillet, this easy side dish is perfect both for the holidays and simple, weeknight dinners. 

What is Almondine?

Almondine or amandine is a French term that simply means almond garnish and since these green beans are topped with almonds, they are Green Beans Almondine.

What to Serve with Green Beans Almondine?

Devour these green beans almondine with pasta, risotto or alongside your favorite protein such as roasted chicken, baked salmon or seared steak. 

What You Need

To make this green beans almondine recipe, you only need a few basic ingredients:

Fresh green beans - French haricots verts are best here, as they’re more tender than other varieties of string beans. Make sure they are rinsed and trimmed before using.

Chopped almonds – Their nutty crunch contrasts perfectly with the grassy, tender green beans.

Unsalted butter - helps to toast the almonds and adds amazing flavor to the dish.

Onion – For savory depth of flavor.

Extra-virgin olive oil – For sautéing the onion and green beans. It adds a nice richness that ties the whole dish together.

Fresh lemon juice – Its bright flavor balances this simple recipe.

And salt and pepper – For extra flavor!

How to Make

Green beans almondine couldn’t be simpler to make. Here’s what you need to do:

First, blanch the green beans. Cook the green beans in a large pot of salted boiling water for 2 minutes, until they’re crisp-tender and bright green. Transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Then, drain them, and spread them on a kitchen towel to dry.

Next, saute the green beans, onion and almonds. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add chopped onion and almonds until golden brown. Using tongs, transfer the blanched green beans and saute briefly until evenly combined and the green beans are tender. 

Finally, season and serve. Add fresh lemon juice and zest, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Then, transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!

Variations

This recipe is great just as it is, but sometimes if you have other ingredients on hand adding the extra flavors can elevate the dish even more. Here are some optional add-ons:

• Bacon: Stir in 1/3 cup cooked, crumbled bacon at the end.
• Mushrooms: Saute sliced mushrooms along with the shallots before you add in the green beans.
• Parmesan: Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top right before serving.
• Breadcrumbs: Add 1/4 cup Italian or panko style breadcrumbs when you toast the almonds.