This green beans almondine recipe is classic and simple French dish I enjoy making because it reminds me of my childhood. It’s nutty and buttery and only takes 15 minutes to make when broiled in the oven.

Called haricots verts amandine in French, green beans almondine is a dish of green beans served with toasted almonds and a simple lemon and butter sauce. There are no specific cooking method for the green beans – some recipes steam them while other recipes pan fry or deep fry them.

I opted to broil mine so that very little oil is used + cooking time is also minimal.

Setting your oven to broil basically turns it into an upside down grill. The veggies are exposed to extremely high heat for a short period of time – and the result is green beans that get a nice bit of char on them, while still retaining their snappy interior and natural crunch. Remember to keep an eye on your green beans while they’re under the broiler though. A minute too long under the extreme heat can make your perfect, fresh beans scorch.

Trimming Green Beans (Or French Beans)

This is a little tip on how I like to trim my green beans quickly:

1. Wash and drain the green beans.
2. Line up the beans on a cutting board and cut off the tips.
3. Flip the beans around, line up the tips again and trim.

Ingredients Needed

• Extra virgin olive oil: Choose a good high quality virgin olive oil so your green beans get a nice peppery hint of flavor.
• Fresh green beans: Only fresh green beans can be used for this recipe. Canned ones are too soft and watery. Use French green beans if you can find them or stick with the regular ones.
• Butter: It wouldn’t be a French dish without butter! Only a tablespoon is used but it’s enough to infuse the haricots verts with plenty of saltiness and buttery comfort.
• Slivered almonds: We are toasting them to bring out their nuttiness and give them a beautiful crispy texture. So yummy!
• Lemon juice: A hint of acidity to brighten up the dish.
• Salt and pepper: Optional but good to balance the flavors.

How to Make Green Beans Almondine

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe.

1. Wash, rinse and dry the green beans: Use a large colander and thoroughly rinse the beans. Let them drain for a few seconds and use a towel or paper towel to dry them.
2. Trim the green beans: Place the green beans on cutting board and use a sharp chef’s knife to trim both ends. Throw the ends away.
3. Season the green beans: Cover a baking tray with parchment paper and put the green beans on top. Drizzle olive oil on the green beans and toss them to coat evenly. Season with salt and put them in the oven on the top rack.
4. Broiling: Broil the green beans for 4 to 8 minutes until they are a little brown and wrinkled. They should be soft but still yielding a little crunch.
5. Making the sauce: Put the almond in a pan over medium high heat, and move them around with a spatula until they are golden brown. Add butter and lemon juice and stir well.
6. Finishing the dish: Toss the green beans in and transfer the dish to a serving plate. Enjoy!

What To Serve With Them

This is a bright and simple tasting dish that pairs well with seafood, chicken, a vegetable main dish, or a quiche. Here are my recommendations:

• Parmesan and broccoli quiche
• Salmon en papillote
• Chicken piccata
• Balsamic chicken
• Roasted cauliflower head

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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