If you’re looking for a side dish that’s elegant, quick, and packed with flavor, French Beans Almondine is it. This is one of those easy dinner recipes that looks fancy but comes together in a flash. Lightly sautéed french green beans tossed with buttery almonds and a splash of lemon—what’s not to love? It's a favorite in many French households, often accompanying roasted meats or appearing next to heartier dishes like a traditional French cassoulet recipe. But here, we’re giving these beans their own moment to shine.
French Beans Almondine with a Crunchy Twist
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine French
Large skillet or sauté pan A nonstick or stainless steel pan works great for toasting the almonds and cooking the beans evenly.
Tongs or a wooden spoon To gently toss and stir.
Colander For draining blanched beans.
Mixing bowl (optional) If you want to toss the beans and almonds separately before serving.
- 1 pound French green beans also called haricots verts, trimmed
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley or grated Parmesan
Blanch the Beans
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the French green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes until just tender but still vibrant. Drain and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain again and pat dry.
Toast the Almonds
In your skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast them, stirring often, until they’re golden and fragrant—about 3–4 minutes. Remove almonds and set aside.
Sauté Garlic and Beans
In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add garlic slices and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Toss in the blanched green beans and sauté for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add Flavor
Sprinkle in lemon zest, squeeze over the juice, and season with salt and pepper. Toss in the toasted almonds and give it all a gentle stir to combine.
Serve Warm
Garnish with a touch of parsley or a bit of grated Parmesan if you're feeling fancy.
Pairings
This dish pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, grilled fish, or even next to a hearty French cassoulet. The buttery almonds and lemon zing bring brightness to rich bean dishes like a slow-cooked bean stew or even a cowboy beans recipe. You can also serve this alongside vegetarian recipes like lentil loafs or creamy mashed potatoes for a balanced meal. And if you’re building a spread of healthy snacks, a chilled version of this dish works surprisingly well!
FAQs
1. Can I use regular green beans instead of French green beans?
Yes! French green beans (haricots verts) are thinner and cook quicker, but regular green beans work just fine—just cook them a little longer during the blanching stage.
2. Can I make this ahead of time?
You can blanch the beans and toast the almonds a few hours ahead. When ready to serve, do a quick sauté to warm everything up and finish with the lemon and seasoning.
3. Is this dish vegetarian?
Yes, it’s fully vegetarian and can be made vegan by swapping the butter for olive oil or a plant-based alternative.
4. Can I add other beans or legumes?
Absolutely. This French beans recipe is great on its own, but feel free to toss in some cooked white beans or chickpeas for more protein—perfect if you’re looking for vegetarian bean dishes or experimenting with mixed beans recipes.
5. What other dishes does this pair well with?
Try it alongside garlic French green beans, a homemade beans casserole, or even as a fresh counterpoint to fried beans or the richness of a traditional cassoulet recipe.
