Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 11 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Rate this Recipe
Lighten up your summertime meal with these fresh and healthy greens beans, with the brightness of lemon and crunch of almonds.
When I was a kid, our vegetable garden was nothing fancy. A few tomato plants, a row of strawberries and a pumpkin plant or two graced the modest square of dirt in our backyard. But off to the side, winding their way up strings that my mum staked into the soil and stretched to the top of the fence, were the pride and joy of the vegetable patch. Green beans.
It was my job to pick the ripe beans from the stalks. As I pinched each bean and placed them into the big plastic bowl, I imagined the fresh side dish that would appear on our plates at dinnertime. Tender-crisp beans, adorned with nothing more than a pat of butter or a squeeze of lemon juice. They needed nothing more to let their natural flavors sing.
To this day, I rarely serve green beans with anything heavier than a simple vinaigrette. That being said, a crumble of bacon and a dose of sautéed mushrooms (oh, how I love that recipe!) never did any harm to a bowl of green beans. And at Thanksgiving, our favorite recipe is Green Beans with Balsamic Roasted Shallots.
This easy side dish is reminiscent of something that my mum would have prepared when I was a kid. Lemony, herb-filled and highlighted with the crunch of toasted almonds, this side dish is a fresh and healthy way to perk up your summertime dinners.
Printable Recipe
Green Beans with Lemon & Toasted Almonds
Lighten up your summertime meal with these fresh and healthy greens beans, with the brightness of lemon and crunch of almonds.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 103kcal
Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pounds green beans trimmed
- ¼ cup slivered almonds toasted
- 4 basil leaves thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced chives
The Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
Cut the green beans into 2- to 3-inch pieces.
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
Cook the green beans in the boil water until tender crisp, about 2 minutes (depending on the thickness of the beans). Drain the green beans and immediately plunge into the ice water to them from cooking further.
Transfer the green beans to a serving bowl, and toss with the almonds, basil, chives and dressing. Serve.
The Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, agave nectar, salt and pepper.
Notes
Weight Watchers Points: 3 (Points+), 2 (Old Points)
Nutrition
Serving: 0.66Cup | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 231mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 690IU | Vitamin C: 13.8mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.
Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!
More Side Dishes
- Cauliflower in Puttanesca Sauce
- Maple Pear and Goat Cheese Salad
- 50+ Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
- Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Reader Interactions
Comments
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
We didn't have a garden growing up but no my hubby keeps one going all year long! He loves to plant green beans! This is the perfect recipe! Love the added almonds!
Reply
Rose | The Clean Dish
My mom is growing green beans and has been ever since I can remember. Such fond memories!! I love this recipe - can't wait to try it!
Reply
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
Such a perfect , light and crisp side side! I agree thought, greens beans are fantastic with bacon and mushrooms!
Reply
heather | girlichef
I totally agree - fresh from the garden green beans are special enough on their own, but every once in a while a special dish is in order. I love the simplicity in this dish with the brightness of the lemon and the crunch of the nuts!
Reply
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
I love that you had a garden growing up, so did I! I feel so guilty that we can't have one here, but I need to run to the farmers market to get some fresh green beans soon to make this dish!
Reply
Paula-bell'alimento
Love adding nuts to green beans! Great side Dara.
Reply
The Food Hunter
How fun to have picked your own green beans! great recipe
Reply
Stephanie
My kids all love green beans - and so do I! These sounds delightful!
Reply
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
I love this idea for green beans! It looks so fancy but is easy to make. The color is so vibrant!
Reply
Martha @ A Family Feast
Love this simple fresh dish! We have a ton of green beans in our garden this summer so this will be next on our list!
Reply
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Dara, I love that you had a vegetable garden growing up. . that's partly why I like to have one. . so my kids can see how to grow vegetables and *hopefully* appreciate where food comes from and the time it takes to grow stuff. I totally agree, with green beans, you don't need much other than a simple vinaigrette and a couple of other ingredients. I love tasting the green beans and letting them shine! love this!
Reply
