Garlic Almond Green Beans (Side Dish)
A versatile, quick side for any meat dish. I served these beans with beef meatballs in tomato sauce — a really harmonious pairing. I used whole pods (sadly not always easy to find), which make the dish not only tasty but beautiful. You can arrange the side in a ring and tuck meat or fish into the center; it looks stunning on a party table and earns you a reputation as a host who plates with flair.
Cooking method
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Step 1:
Gather your ingredients. For this green bean side you'll need green beans (frozen or fresh — mine were frozen; whole or cut), olive oil, garlic, almonds, lemon juice, and salt.
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Step 2:
If the beans are frozen, put them in a colander and rinse them twice with boiling water. If they're fresh, just rinse them thoroughly.
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Step 3:
Add the thawed beans to boiling salted water. Bring it back to a boil and cook for 2–3 minutes.
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Step 4:
Coarsely chop the almonds. You can leave them out or swap in another nut, such as walnuts, but they really do make it better — beans and nuts are a classic combination.
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Step 5:
Peel and chop the garlic. You can also press it or grate it.
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Step 6:
Drain the green beans in a colander, let the water run off, and pat them dry.
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Step 7:
Transfer the beans to a bowl. Add the garlic, pour in the lemon juice and olive oil, and toss.
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Step 8:
Sprinkle the beans with the chopped almonds and serve. This bright, eye-catching side is sure to please. Enjoy!
- For green bean dishes (also called string beans or snap beans), young pods are best — they're more tender. Overripe beans take longer to cook and are less juicy and tougher. You can tell young beans from overripe ones by color (young ones are pale green or pale yellow) and by how springy the pod is. Before any green bean dish, the beans should be boiled: trim off the stems, rinse them well, and cook them in salted water. The cooking time depends on ripeness — young beans take 5–7 minutes, overripe ones 8–10. Judge doneness by look and taste, and try not to overcook them; overcooked beans lose flavor and turn "stringy." Drain the cooked beans in a colander and let the water run off. Now they're ready to use in all kinds of healthy, satisfying, and tasty dishes.
Caloric content of the products possible in the composition of the dish
- Garlic - 143 kcal/100g
- Almonds nuts - 609 kcal/100g
- Salt - 0 kcal/100g
- Lemon juice - 16 kcal/100g
- Olive oil - 913 kcal/100g
- String beans - 24 kcal/100g
