Alia and I are in the kitchen this week, cooking up Almond Green Beans! This was Alia’s first time having green beans this way. You can see her real reaction to them at the end of the video. Lol ? You can also tell she was a little skeptical, wondering if this was for real or if this was an ad for Trader Joe’s.
Almond Green Beans are one of my easy go to sides I love to make during the week. They’re simple to make. They cook up fast and not only do they bring color to the plate they are full of nutty and buttery flavors!
Alia and Almond Green Beans Video
Isn’t Alia just precious??? If you missed the last video she and I did on painted pancakes you can check out here ?? It’s more than obvious I’m no artist, but we sure had fun! ?
How to Make Almond Green Beans
- Over medium to high heat, add 2 tablespoons bacon grease or olive oil to a skillet
- Before it starts to smoke, add 12 ounces frozen green beans*
- Stir to coat them lightly with the bacon grease or oil and let them cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn the heat to low, add 1 teaspoon garlic salt, cover and let them steam for 5-10 minutes.
- Make toasted almonds: While the beans are steaming, add 2/3 cup sliced almonds to a dry skillet over medium heat.
- Stir or toss until they are golden brown.
- Sprinkle almonds over green beans, season with salt and pepper (if needed) and serve!
What’s the difference between Haricots Verts and Green Beans?
Haricots verts is French for green beans. However, haricots verts are longer, thinner and more tender than their green bean American counter parts.
I like to think of haricots verts as the Vogue models of the legume world. Where as, green beans are the Mary Lou Rettons! Both are beautiful and fabulous in their own way.
Fresh or Frozen?
Most of the time, I love to cook with raw fresh ingredients. Green beans are a different story. If you buy a bunch from your local farmers’ market, AWESOME!
But be prepared to de-string them for a good 1/2 hour. I used to do that on the front porch in Norcross, GA with my grandmother, but that was way better than watching Hee Haw. I’m just sayin’.
If you opt for the fresh beans at your local grocer, chances are a simple snip off both ends is all you need to keep from picking out the hard bits from between your teeth.
And then there is the glorious frozen food isle! Frozen green beans are washed, trimmed, and flash frozen making them hassle free and ready to go.
In fact, just about all vegetables and fruits that are commercially frozen are picked at their peak of freshness. When they’re flash frozen, this locks in their fresh flavor and bright colors.
The other thing I appreciate about the frozen variety, is the freezing process helps break down some of the fiber. While keeping all the nutrients, the fiber is soften and therefore cooks up a bit faster. In my book, that’s a Win/Win!
Variations
- In stead of almonds, drizzle with tomato sauce or béchamel.
- Spritz with lemon juice
- Add 1-2 cloves of minced garlic while they’re steaming
Plate Partners
Almond green beans are great with most main dishes. They can even be the main event themselves! To do that, serve them in a rustic chunky tomato sauce or serve them chopped up over a bed of rice, quinoa, or cous cous and drizzle with your favorite sauce. I like a vibrant zesty tomato sauce! Or you can saddle your beans next to one of the following for a dinner that’s divine:
Sous Vide Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
Rich and intensely flavorful, a good bone broth makes the best demi-glace for steaks!
More Sides
Here are a few sides that go well with these legumes too!
Almond Green Beans
These bright green beans are nutty and buttery! They're great on their own or saddled next to a juicy steak, fried chicken or an oven roasted salmon.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Frozen thin green beans (haricots verts)
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2/3 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
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Heat bacon grease or olive oil over medium high heat
-
Add frozen green beans
-
Cook over high heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-
Then turn the heat down to low, add the garlic salt, cover, and let them steam for 5-10 minutes.
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While they are steaming, add the sliced almonds to a dry skillet over medium heat. WATCH them carefully, moving them around the pan, until they are lightly toasted.
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Add the almonds to the green beans and serve.
Recipe Notes
Even though bacon grease, butter, or oil is added, this dish has a lower fat content because most of that is left in the pan and not put on the plate.
If you are using fresh green beans, the cook time will increase. Allow for an extra 15 minutes of cooking over higher heat and at least 10 more minutes while steaming. Continue to taste and adjust to your preference.
Variations:
Garlic Lover Green Beans: In the last few minutes over high heat, add 1 clove of chopped garlic.
Drizzle with tomato sauce or béchamel.
Plate Partners:
Restaurant Style Steak, Pecan Crusted Salmon, Fried Chicken Nuggets, or Sous Vide Chicken in Mushroom Sauce
Love green beans! Great recipe