These festive almond green beans with toasted almonds, lemon zest, and Parmesan cheese are the perfect holiday side dish—easy to make and full of flavor!
One of my favorite side dishes to serve is almond green beans. They’re versatile, quick to prepare, and add a fresh, vibrant touch to any meal. Whether it’s a cozy weeknight dinner or a festive holiday spread, almond green beans always make a meal feel a little more special. Plus, they’re so easy to make ahead of time, which takes the stress out of cooking for special occasions.
For everyday meals, I usually keep things simple with just a bit of seasoning, like my Garlic Green Beans. But when it comes to holiday tables, I love to take it up a notch! This festive almond green bean recipe adds a wonderful crunch from toasted almonds, a zesty pop of lemon, fresh garlic, parsley, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. It’s a delicious way to elevate your green beans and make them feel like a star of the meal.
I know how tight cooking space can get during the holidays, and trying to figure out when everything should go in the oven or on the stove can feel like a juggling act. That’s why this dish is perfect—it’s made entirely on the stovetop and takes just minutes to prepare, leaving you with more room (and time!) for everything else.
Almond Green Beans Video
Ingredients
(Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe card with all the measurements.)
- green beans
- The star of the dish! Fresh green beans provide that perfect crisp texture and vibrant color.
- sliced or slivered almonds
- Toasted almonds are a game-changer! They add a wonderful crunch and a nutty flavor that really complements the green beans. Toasting them really brings out their flavor.
- olive oil
- You'll use the oil for sautéing the garlic and green beans. Feel free to swap it for avocado oil or butter if you prefer.
- garlic
- Garlic is a must for this dish. Garlic and green beans are such a fantastic pairing, and the garlic adds that savory depth that ties everything together.
- lemon zest (and juice - optional)
- This is the unexpected ingredient that takes the dish to the next level! It brings a burst of fresh, aromatic flavor that lightens everything up. A squeeze of lemon juice would work beautifully here too.
- Parmesan cheese
- Finely grated Parmesan adds a rich, nutty, and cheesy flavor that coats the green beans perfectly, making every bite a little bit indulgent.
- fresh parsley
- A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end brightens up the dish with a touch of herbaceous freshness and a pop of color.
- salt, ground black pepper
- And, of course, no recipe is complete without seasoning it with salt and pepper.
How To Make Almond Green Beans
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, season it generously with salt.
- Blanch the green beans.
- Add your fresh green beans to the boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes.
- After 3 minutes, drain them and set them aside.
- This quick blanching helps them stay vibrant and crisp!
- Meanwhile, toast the almonds.
- Grab a dry skillet and toast the sliced almonds over medium heat.
- Stir them often until they turn a beautiful golden brown—this only takes a few minutes. Watch them closely, though, as they can burn quickly.
- Once they’re done, set them aside.
- Saute the garlic.
- In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add your sliced garlic and cook it for just a couple of minutes, until it turns golden. I like to remove the garlic and set aside, so it doesn't burn.
- Garlic can burn easily and turn bitter if it gets too dark, so keep an eye on it.
- You can swap the sliced garlic for minced garlic, but be sure to cook it for only 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Sauté the green beans.
- Once the garlic is ready, add the blanched green beans to the skillet. Season with more salt (if needed) and freshly cracked pepper.
- Sauté them on high heat for about 3 minutes, letting them get slightly charred in some spots, if you'd like. This gives them a nice depth of flavor.
- Toss everything together.
- Toss your sautéed green beans with the toasted almonds, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice (if using), Parmesan, and fresh parsley. Everything should be well coated and deliciously fragrant.
- Serve and enjoy.
- Your almond green beans are ready to serve! Serve them hot and enjoy. I like to garnish the green beans with more fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese right before serving.
Make-Ahead Tips
The great thing about this recipe is that you can do most of the prep ahead of time!
You can blanch the green beans and toast the almonds a day or two before serving. Just store the green beans in the fridge and keep the toasted almonds in a zip-top bag or airtight container.
When you’re ready to serve, all you have to do is sauté the garlic and cook the green beans, then toss them with the rest of the ingredients.
This is such a time-saver, especially if you’re cooking for a holiday or dinner guests. It lets you enjoy the moment without feeling rushed, and it still tastes fresh and delicious!
Festive Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs green beans
- salt pepper
- ¼-1/2 cup almonds sliced
- 1 - 1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil
- 3-5 garlic cloves sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ Tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
- ½ Tablespoon fresh parsley minced
Instructions
- Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Blanch the green beans in the boiling water for about 3 minutes, drain.
- Meanwhile, toast the almonds on a dry skillet until they are golden brown. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, heat the olive oil on medium high heat and add the sliced garlic. Cook until the garlic turns golden, but be careful not to burn it, since it will taste bitter. (I used garlic slices in this recipe because I wanted it to resemble the sliced almonds, but you can also used minced garlic, in which case cook it for about 30 seconds to a minute only. You can also smash the garlic cloves and add them to the oil whole, cook them and then discard the garlic. The oil will have the flavor of garlic, but the finished dish will just have a very mild garlic flavor.) Remove the garlic slices from the skillet and set aside, so they don't burn.
- Once the garlic is ready, add the blanched green beans to the skillet. (If using minced garlic, add the green beans right in.) Season with more salt (if needed) and freshly cracked pepper. Sauté them on high heat for about 3 minutes, letting them get slightly charred in some spots, if you'd like. This gives them a nice depth of flavor.
- Toss the beans with the almonds, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice (if using), Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.
- I like to garnish the green beans with more Parmesan cheese right before serving.
Notes
Prep Ahead
You can do most of the prep work ahead of time. Blanch the green beans, toast the almonds and you can keep them in the refrigerator and a ziptop bag respectively. Just cook the garlic and sauté the green beans when you are ready to serve them and toss with the rest of the ingredients.The post Festive Almond Green Beans appeared first on Olga's Flavor Factory.