Learn how to make classic green beans almondine! Sometimes known as green beans amandine, these green beans with almonds combine tender green beans, simple seasonings, and toasted almonds into one delicious side dish!
Green beans amandine (or green beans almondine here in the United States!) is one of those delightful side dishes that looks elegant enough for to serve as a holiday side dish, but it’s easy enough for a weeknight.
You’ll pair tender cooked green beans with a simple combination of seasonings, and plenty of crunchy, toasted almonds. YUM.
We’ve had this classic french side dish with everything from our Thanksgiving dinner or holiday meal, to a dinner party with friends, to easy weeknight dinners like meatloaf, chicken, and salmon. It’s easy, fresh, and beautiful, not to mention FULL of flavor!
Ready to make a batch? The first step is to gather a few simple ingredients…
Simple Ingredients To Start
Other than the flavor (THE FLAVOR!!!), one thing I love about this easy green bean recipe is how simple and straightforward the ingredients list is. Let’s take a look:
- Green Beans. Fresh green beans and frozen green beans both work here! Growing up, my mom made this dish with canned green beans, and, while I always loved it, this dish will have the best color, taste, and texture when made with fresh beans or frozen beans. Bonus points if you use haricot verts (thinner, French-style green beans)!
- Almonds. Next up is almonds to add a delightful crunch. Sliced almonds and slivered almonds work best, since they toast nicely and are easier to sprinkle over the green beans. We’ll toast them ourselves, so start with raw almonds.
- Butter or Olive Oil. We’ve made this simple recipe dozens of times over the years, and both work beautifully! If dairy works for your diet, butter adds delicious flavor! Otherwise, extra-virgin olive oil is lovely.
- Fresh Garlic. Some fresh garlic adds a robust savory note that instantly elevates this easy side dish recipe.
- Salt & Pepper. Simple, yes, but essential for just the right flavor! I love flaky sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.
- Maybe a Few Finishes. For bonus points, you can add extras to the finished dish, like fresh lemon juice, red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, or shallots! (See the “variations” section below for more info!)
Wait. Is it Almondine or Amandine?
So, what’s the difference between amandine and almondine?
“Amandine” is a french culinary term referring to an almond garnish (“amande” means almond in french!). “Almondine” is the Americanized version of the same dish. The terms are interchangeable here, as both refer to a dish topped or garnished with almonds. Fun fact: many things can be served amandine! Green beans, fish (like cod or trout), and other green veggies like asparagus are popular amandine recipes.
How To Make Green Beans almondine, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
- Toast Almonds. In a large skillet, melt 1 Tablespoon butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add almonds and stir regularly, cooking 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown. The butter may start to brown a bit–this is fine! (If the almonds or butter seem to be browning too quickly, you can reduce the heat to medium-low heat or low heat.)
- Wash & Trim Green Beans. Rinse green beans in a colander and use a sharp knife to trim off the woody or stringy ends. I usually keep the beans long, but if you have a few that are exceptionally big, or you prefer bite-sized pieces, feel free to cut them into 2-inch sections.
- Steam Green Beans (My Preferred Method). Add 1-2 inches of water to a large saucepan and insert a steamer basket. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-high heat and when the water is boiling, add the green beans to the steamer basket. Cover with the lid and steam 5-7 minutes, or until beans are a bright green color and just tender. Carefully remove the steamer basket.
- Or, Sautée Them. Heat 1 Tablespoon butter in the large skillet over medium heat. Add beans and 1/4 cup water to the pan and cook over medium heat 10-14 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are tender.
- Build Flavor. If you steamed the green beans, add 1 Tablespoon butter or oil to the skillet and garlic. Cook 1 minute until fragrant, then add steamed green beans, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. If you sauteed the green beans, add garlic to the beans and cook 1 minute, then add salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Finish The Beans. Transfer green beans to a serving dish and garnish with toasted almond slices. If desired, add a squeeze of lemon juice on top, or add fresh parsley, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor. Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge 2-3 days.
Variations & Twists To Try
Now that you know hot to make this classic french recipe, let’s talk about variations! Here are a few ways to change things up next time you make these yummy green beans:
- Add Lemon! My favorite is adding an extra squeeze (or two or three!) of fresh lemon juice to the finished green beans right before serving. It adds a lovely note of freshness. For extra flavor, you can also add a tiny bit of fresh lemon zest. Use a microplane grater for best results!
- Try Sautéed Shallots! Cook shallots in butter or olive oil before stirring in the green beans. They add a lovely savory note.
- Add Mushrooms. Another way to add flavor is with sauteed mushrooms! The umami is delightful with the crunchy almonds, fresh garlic, and tender green beans.
- Use Dry Seasonings. Don’t have fresh garlic cloves? Take a cue from our Seasoned Green Beans recipe and use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder instead.
- Try Fresh Herbs. A little fresh parsley or a pinch of fresh thyme can be delicious here!
- Add Warmth. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes is a great way to add color and a little warmth. Go light for subtle warmth, or add an extra sprinkle for some kick!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Green Beans Almondine
Make-Ahead Tips. To speed up your dinner prep, you can toast the almonds beforehand and store them in an airtight container till dinner. They’ll easily keep a day or so in advance! Then, you can wash and trim the green beans so you can skip that step later!
Pick Great Beans! For the best green bean amandine, I recommend looking for vibrant green, undamaged beans. Haricots verts (thin, French green beans) are an excellent choice when you can find them, since they are tender, sweeter, and cook more quickly. Otherwise, good ol’ regular green beans work great!
Can I Use Frozen Green Beans? Yes! They’ll work well here. You shouldn’t need to adjust the recipe at all for steaming. If sautéing, just make sure to cook off any excess water, as needed.
Can I Use Canned Green Beans? If you like them! I grew up on canned green beans amandine–it’s a great way to dress up a budget-friendly veggie. So, if you don’t mind the taste/texture of canned green beans, they’ll work in this recipe. Drain off all the liquid from the cans, and skip the steaming/sautéing steps.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Green Beans Almondine recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Green Beans Almondine (Amandine)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds or slivered almonds
- 2 Tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1 clove fresh garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or flaky sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnish
- fresh lemon wedges
- red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley or fresh thyme
Instructions
- Toast Almonds. In a large skillet, melt 1 Tablespoon butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add almonds and stir regularly, cooking 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown. The butter may start to brown a bit–this is fine! (If the almonds or butter seem to be browning too quickly, you can reduce the heat to medium-low heat or low heat.)
- Wash & Trim Green Beans. Rinse green beans in a colander and use a sharp knife to trim off the woody or stringy ends. I usually keep the beans long, but if you have a few that are exceptionally big, or you prefer bite-sized pieces, feel free to cut them into 2-inch sections.
- Steam Green Beans (My Preferred Method). Add 1-2 inches of water to a large saucepan and insert a steamer basket. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-high heat and when the water is boiling, add the green beans to the steamer basket. Cover with the lid and steam 5-7 minutes, or until just tender. Carefully remove the steamer basket.
- Or, Sautée Them. Heat 1 Tablespoon butter in the large skillet over medium heat. Add beans and 1/4 cup water to the pan and cook over medium heat 10-14 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are tender.
- Build Flavor. If you steamed the green beans, add 1 Tablespoon butter or oil to the skillet and garlic. Cook 1 minute until fragrant, then add steamed green beans, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. If you sauteed the green beans, add garlic to the beans and cook 1 minute, then add salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Finish The Beans. Transfer green beans to a serving dish and garnish with toasted almonds. If desired, add a squeeze of lemon juice on top, or add fresh parsley, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor. Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge 2-3 days.
Notes
- Can I Use Frozen Green Beans? Yes! They’ll work well here. You shouldn’t need to adjust the recipe at all for steaming. If sautéing, just make sure to cook off any excess water, as needed.
- Can I Use Canned Green Beans? If you like them! I grew up on canned green beans amandine–it’s a great way to dress up a budget-friendly veggie. So, if you don’t mind the taste/texture of canned green beans, they’ll work in this recipe. Drain off all the liquid from the cans, and skip the steaming/sautéing steps.
- Make-Ahead Tips. To speed up your dinner prep, you can toast the almonds beforehand and store them in an airtight container till dinner. They’ll easily keep a day or so in advance! Then, you can wash and trim the green beans so you can skip that step later!
- Try Shallots! Cook shallots in butter or olive oil before stirring in the green beans. They add a lovely savory note.
- Don’t have fresh garlic cloves? Take a cue from our Seasoned Green Beans recipe and use 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon onion powder instead.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/green-beans-almondine/
I love how light and fresh these beans are. A great side dish