French Cuisine
Green Beans with Butter and Almonds
French Green Beans Amandine is a legendary bistro side dish that perfectly highlights how French culinary philosophy transforms simple vegetables into an elegant dining event. Crisp emerald green beans are quickly blanched, then gently tossed in premium melted butter, coating them in a rich, silky glaze. Toasted almond slices introduce a marvelous, deep nuttiness and an extra-satisfying crunch. A final splash of fresh lemon juice cuts through the buttery landscape, binding the nutty and green flavors together with an incredibly vibrant, clean finish.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 20 min
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cooking
- 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- French Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fiber
- 3.5 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
Place the almond flakes into a dry skillet over medium heat
Place the almond flakes into a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until they are pale golden and fragrant, then immediately transfer to a cold plate to prevent burning.
- 02
Trim the tough stem ends off the green beans if using fresh (…
Trim the tough stem ends off the green beans if using fresh (do not thaw frozen beans). Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add a generous spoonful of salt.
- 03
Blanch the beans in the boiling water for 3–4 minutes (4–5 mi…
Blanch the beans in the boiling water for 3–4 minutes (4–5 minutes for frozen). They should soften slightly but retain a distinct, snappy crunch when sampled.
- 04
While they cook, prepare a large bowl with ice water
While they cook, prepare a large bowl with ice water. Drain the beans quickly through a colander and plunge them into the ice bath for 2 minutes to stop the cooking, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
- 05
Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat without letti…
Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat without letting it brown. Toss in the dry green beans, season with fine salt and black pepper, and sauté for 2 minutes until hot and fully glazed.
- 06
Remove from heat, drizzle with fresh lemon juice, and fold in…
Remove from heat, drizzle with fresh lemon juice, and fold in most of the toasted almonds. Stir gently, transfer to a serving dish, and scatter the remaining almonds on top.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
An ice bath after blanching is essential. Plunging the hot beans into ice-cold water stops the residual cooking process instantly, ensuring the beans stay tight, snappy, and perfectly emerald rather than turning dull, mushy, and khaki.
How to serve
Serve hot immediately after combining with the butter and almonds, mounding them beautifully on a warmed platter. This serves as a majestic universal partner to pan-seared white fish, roasted chicken, or a juicy steak.
How to store
The prepared side dish can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Reheat gently in a pan with a small pat of butter to restore its glossy sheen, though note the almonds will soften slightly.
Note
Slivered or flaked almonds are highly preferred for their texture, but coarsely chopped whole raw almonds work too. Both fresh French green beans and frozen snap beans yield good results.
