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Green Beans with Brown Butter and Toasted Almonds is a nice twist on traditional green beans. The nutty flavor of the brown butter coats the freshly cooked green beans and is tossed with crunchy toasted almonds. This is a nice addition to a holiday table.
Each year I am amazed at how fast Thanksgiving rolls around. All of the sudden I blink and we are talking about turkey, cranberries, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Hopefully you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food and family. I think the side dishes are a second thought to the main attractions for many people, but for me they are just as important.
As I start to think about the next holiday I know that I will need that balance of fresh vegetables and salads to go along with the meats and potatoes. It is nice to serve up simple side dishes that are a little different than just plain green beans or carrots {try these Honey Glazed Carrots}.
One of my favorite vegetable side dishes is green beans. I can eat them plain but enjoy spicing them up a bit for special occasions. These Simple Garlic Parmesan Green Beans are one of my favorite ways to eat green beans, but I think we have a contender with these Green Beans with Brown Butter and Toasted Almonds.
Recipe Ingredients
You will love this easy recipe and the simple ingredients. It is one of my favorite recipes!
- green beans: this recipe uses about 1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed {or you can use Haricot Verts which are thin French style green beans and you won’t have to trim them}.
- butter: the butter helps flavor the green beans and cook them. You also can use olive oil for a lighter option.
- almonds: silvered almonds are toasted and added to these green beans for crunch and texture. You can also swap this for pecans or walnuts.
How to Make these Green Beans with Brown Butter and Toasted Almonds
Step 1: Cook Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium high heat. While the pot of water is boiling heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the almonds and stir often until golden brown. Set aside. Once the water is boiling add the green beans and boil for 5-6 minutes, or until the green beans are tender to eat. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Toast Almonds: In the large skillet that you toasted the almonds in add the butter and heat over medium high heat for two minutes stirring until the butter melts and smells nutty.
Step 3: Mix Almonds and Green Beans: Turn the heat to low and add the green beans and half of the almonds into the skillet with the butter and gently mix together for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the green beans into a serving dish and garnish with the remaining half of the toasted almonds.
Storage Tips
Store the leftover green beans in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat you can air fry or heat in a skillet.
More Vegetable Recipes
Sides
Easy Bok Choy Recipe
Vegetarian
Bok Choy Stir Fry
Vegetarian
Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Vegetarian
Za’atar Roasted Carrots
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Green Beans with Brown Butter and Toasted Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh green beans, ends trimmed {or you can use Haricot Verts which are thin French style green beans and you won’t have to trim them}
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup silvered almonds, toasted
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium high heat.
- While the pot of water is boiling heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the almonds and stir often until golden brown. Set aside.
- Once the water is boiling add the green beans and boil for 5-6 minutes, or until the green beans are tender to eat. Drain and set aside.
- In the large skillet that you toasted the almonds in add the butter and heat over medium high heat for two minutes stirring until the butter melts and smells nutty.
- Turn the heat to low and add the green beans and half of the almonds into the skillet with the butter and gently mix together for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the green beans into a serving dish and garnish with the remaining half of the toasted almonds.
Notes
- You can parboil the green beans ahead of time to cut down on the cook time when you are preparing a large holiday meal. To do this cook the beans in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just crisp-tender which takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the green beans from the pot and immediately place in an ice bath. Pat beans dry. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use {you can do this up to a day ahead}.
- When you are ready to make the green beans you will skip the step where you boil the green beans and instead add the green beans into the melted brown butter and heat for 3 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Most definitely this is my kind of green bean casserole so beautiful and so good!
Me too! Thanks.
I friggin adore green beans in all shapes & forms. Wait, I think they only come in one shape? LOL
Ha! I do too. 🙂
Brown butter is such a lovely addition to vegetable dishes. And the toasted almonds seem like the perfect compliment!
It really is. I think I need to try it in a variety of sides. So good!
Green beans are the one vegetable that all of my kids agree upon. The addition of nutty, browned butter with the crunchiness of almonds is such a nice way to elevate them!
My kids love them too which makes me happy!
Yup, Thanksgiving sneaks up every year, without fail, lol! I love this dish – reminding me that I have not eaten enough green beans this year! I love how it cuts so many calories from the usual cream and cheese-laden green bean casserole while still being delicious.
Yeah..I agree! Green bean casserole is good too but I would take a dish like this over that any day! 😉
Green beans are a favorite side dish at our house too, I love the addition of brown butter in this, it would be a great addition to our holiday menu!
What a lovely side dish! Brown butter = yuuummm!
I love brown butter too! Thanks Jenny.
I love green beans with toasted almonds. That’s how my mom always made them growing up. So delicious and perfect for holiday meals!
They are the best. So classic but full of flavor and a little different than the plain old green beans!
there is something to be said about a classic dish. They are always the first to go since guests (and my family) always love a classic and i know this will be a regular at my house!
I totally agree with you. Usually you can get even the pickiest eaters to eat the classics. Hope you try this and like it!
Dear Julia, brown butter makes everything taste better! I love this dish…I want to make this for the holidays. Sounds perfect dear. xoxo, Catherine
I love brown butter too, Catherine! It sure does make everything better. Thanks!