Tendergreen beans with a mild flavor – these green beans, sautéed in brown butter and almonds, are a quick and simple side dish to prepare and serve.
WHAT IS A GREEN BEAN?
Beans of the green bean variety are the most widely available in American supermarkets. They have edible pods that carry tiny seeds that are long and thin. Their typical size is 5 inches.
String beans, snap beans, and snaps are all standard terms for them, which are not to be confused with sugar snap peas.
String beans are older green beans that have developed a stiff string along the connected edge as they age. That’s why people call them string beans.
GREEN BEANS VS. HARICOTS VERT
Haricots vert, or French beans, are the common names for French green beans. They are the tastiest, sweetest, and slimmest. Most of them have a length of about four inches.
Chinese Long Beans, Long Beans, Yard Long Beans, or Snake Beans are various beans pretty similar to Black Beans in flavor and texture. They’re a different variety, around 1 to 1.5 feet long.
GREEN BEAN RECIPE
The use of brown butter elevates this dish to new heights. The combination of brown butter and almonds gives this meal a rich, nutty flavor; this is a clever use of an essential ingredient list.
For those short on time but yet want to cook something delicious, this recipe is for you!
It’s a terrific way to get more greens into your diet without breaking the budget.
HOW TO COOK GREEN BEANS?
There are only five ingredients in this sauteed dish, and the entire process takes no more than 10 minutes.
On a skillet, toast the slivered almonds until slightly browned and fragrant. Add the butter to a cast-iron skillet over medium/high heat and stir until the butter has browned.
After a brief period of foaming, the butter will settle. It’s normal for the bottom of the pan to have a few brown spots.
Mix the beans until they are well covered with the browned butter.
Using a sauté pan is the best way to cook. Bright green color and a crisp texture are maintained in the beans. Salt and pepper are all you need for seasoning.
WHAT DO YOU EAT WITH GREEN BEANS?
Pasta, chicken, beef, pig, and fish are all excellent accompaniments to this dish.
This recipe could be a good alternative if you’re not a fan of Thanksgiving or Christmas casseroles. Rather than taking up oven space, these are easy to prepare before the meal is served.
COOK’S TIPS
- It is unnecessary to blanch the green beans before sautéing them in a pan.
- You can substitute Marcona almonds for slivered almonds.
- Before serving, sprinkle the Maldon sea salt on top.
- And you can add lemon juice or zest before serving to enhance the flavor.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
STRING AND GREEN BEAN: ARE THEY THE SAME?
- Yes, they are both derived from the same bean and are interchangeable. String beans are called that because they are older and have a long, stiff string.
To make this dish, can I use long beans?
- Yes, I’m sure of it. You should cut the long beans into shorter lengths and cook them for a little longer because they are longer and have rougher skin.
WHAT KIND OF BUTTER SHOULD I USE?
- You can use Challenge brand unsalted butter, which I prefer.
The average number of calories in one serving?
- Each serving of this recipe contains only 162 calories.
With this recipe, what are its complementary dishes?
I’ve compiled a collection of healthy and quick recipes to prepare on a weeknight.
INGREDIENTS
- Two tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temperature
- One tablespoon of butter (room temperature) for topping
- One pinch of Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, optional
- 1/3 cup slivered almond
- 1 lb. French green beans, bottom string removed
- Three dashes of ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, preferably made of cast iron. A minute of constant stirring is needed to get the slivered almonds roasted. Set aside for now.
- Toss some butter into the pan. Cook the butter until it foams and turns a light brown hue, stirring occasionally. Stir in the green beans and simmer for 1-2 minutes, until just tender. Stir in the roasted almonds, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove the green beans from the heat and top with a tablespoon of butter. Serve immediately, garnished with flakes of Maldon sea salt.