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Green beans with browned butter and almonds in an oval white bowl with a serving spoon.
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5 / 4 votes

Green Beans with Browned Butter and Almonds

Lemon zest, shallots, and red pepper flakes—as well as fragrant toasted almonds—give classic green beans amandine a bold update with plenty of texture. The browned butter amplifies the nuttiness of the almonds, adds a touch of richness, and ties everything together.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Sides
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 288

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup (3 oz) slivered almonds, or substitute chopped walnuts or chopped hazelnuts
  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz) salted butter
  • 3 medium (3 oz) shallots, peeled and sliced into thin rings
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup water
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds green beans, trimmed
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon), preferably organic
  • Chopped fresh chives, for garnish (optional)
  • Toasted walnut oil, for serving (optional)
US - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large Dutch oven over medium, toast the almonds, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 6 minutes. Dump about half of the almonds into a small bowl and reserve for garnish.
  • Add the butter to the remaining almonds in the Dutch oven. When melted, add the shallots and pepper flakes, then increase to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, then bring to a boil. Stir in the beans, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.
  • Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the moisture evaporates and the beans begin to sizzle, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon zest and juice, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Move to a serving dish and sprinkle with the reserved almonds. Garnish with chopped fresh chives and/or a drizzle of toasted walnut oil, if desired.

Notes

  1. Green beans--Use fresh green beans for best results.
  2. Add some color--Save a little lemon zest for sprinkling over the finished dish to add a pop of color and flavor.
  3. Get ahead--You can trim your beans and zest and juice your lemon ahead of time, but we don't recommend making the dish until right before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 100mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 10g