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Sauteed Green Beans

Sauteed green beans are quickly blistered in a hot skillet, then finished with buttery garlic, bright lemon zest, and toasted almonds. Crisp-tender beans with golden garlic and a glossy lemon coating make an easy American side dish.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 190
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

green beans
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
fat and aromatics
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 garlic, thinly sliced
seasonings
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
lemon and nuts
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Sear the beans
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add green beans and cook 6-8 minutes, tossing, until blistered and crisp-tender.
Finish with garlic and butter
  1. Reduce heat to medium, then add butter and garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until golden, with a fragrant sizzle.
  2. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, tossing until evenly coated.
Add lemon and almonds
  1. Toss with lemon zest, lemon juice, and toasted almonds until the beans look glossy and the almonds are evenly distributed.
  2. Serve immediately while the beans are crisp-tender and the garlic is golden.

Notes

For the best blistering, keep the skillet fully preheated before adding the green beans and toss frequently during the 6-8 minute sear. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat briefly in a skillet over medium heat. Freezing isn’t recommended for crisp-tender texture. For a dairy-free swap, use olive oil in place of butter (add it after the garlic step) and keep the lemon and almonds the same.