This simple seared green beans recipe is packed with flavor yet comes together in about 15 minutes. Be sure to use fresh (not frozen) green beans. Double the recipe for your holiday feast; just cook the batches of green beans separately (you don't want to overcrowd the skillet!).
If you've only steamed or boiled beans, let me open your eyes to the world of seared green beans! Cooking the beans in a screaming hot skillet chars them slightly, providing nuttier, more complex flavor. Bonus: it's really hard to overcook green beans when you sear them. Who doesn't have traumatic memories from childhood of eating soft, mushy green beans. No mushy beans here.
And these spiced almonds are so addictive, you'll want to make lots of extras to snack on throughout the week. Again, simple ingredients, straightforward technique is the key here.
The Ingredients that Matter
There are just a few key ingredients to this simple side dish, but it's worth getting to know them better:
- Green Beans. This quintessential summer vegetable is likely overflowing in your home garden by late June, early July. And if you don't have a garden, you'll find plenty of fresh green beans at local farmers' markets and grocery stores. But they are also one of the vegetables readily available all year, meaning you should bookmark this recipe and make it any time! Before cooking green beans, be sure to snip off the tough, stem ends and give them a good rinse (and dry well). This recipe calls for 12 ounces of beans. If you want save time, simply use a package of pre-snipped green beans.
- Almonds. Green beans and almonds are a classic combination, Green Bean Almondine anyone? But instead of of the classic French preparation, this recipe calls for chopping the nuts and tossing with a bit of oil and spices before roasting to a toasty golden brown. Keep whole almonds in your freezer to extend their shelf life. And chop them just prior to toasting. There's no need to adjust the cook time if using room temperature or frozen almonds.
- Chili Powder. Adding just a bit of chili powder goes a long way! The recipe simply calls for chili powder, which means it could be a blend of many verities of pepper. But feel free to substitute for your favorite, like sweet and smoky ancho or chipotle, fruity and bright aleppo, or citrusy and spicy peri-peri pepper.
Health benefits of Green Beans
Greens beans aren't just delicious and versatile, they are also nutritious and packed with vitamins like A, C and K. They also contain folate, minerals and fiber. And that fiber is a pretty big deal.
One serving of green beans (about ½ cup) has about 1 gram of dietary fiber, which may help lower LDL cholesterol. And if you are prone to digestive disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you should be mindful of the fiber you consume. The good news is green beans are considered a low FODMAP food, which means they are unlikely to cause painful gas or bloating. Hoorary!
Alternatives to Almonds
If you don't love almonds, you have some other options. Try directly swapping pecans, walnuts or even peanuts. The roasting time should be about the same and all these nuts would taste great spiced and served on seared green beans.
Allergic to nuts? We have you covered. Try using pepitas (pumpkin seeds) instead of almonds. Simply swap in ¼ cup of raw pepitas for the ½ cup almonds and follow the recipe as written.
Looking for more holiday sides? Try our Roasted Asparagus with Mint Gremolata.
Recipe
Seared Green Beans with Spiced Almonds
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Description
This simple green bean recipe is packed with flavor thanks to a quick sear in hot oil, aromatic shallot and garlic, and crunchy and toasty spiced almonds. Perfect as a quick side or double the recipe for your next holiday feast.
Ingredients
- ½ cup almonds, chopped
- 2 tsp. plus 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- ½ tsp. chili powder
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. table salt, divided
- ½ tsp. black pepper, divided
- 12 oz. trimmed green beans
- 1 medium shallot, chopped (about ¼ cup)
- 1 medium garlic clover, minced
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Toss almonds, 2 teaspoons of the oil, chili powder, garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon each of the salt and pepper in a small bowl until well combined. Transfer to a sheet tray in a single layer, scraping any spices left in the bowl onto the almonds. Bake until toasted and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add beans and cook, undisturbed, for 1 minute. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly charred and just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add shallot, garlic, thyme and remaining ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Toss well and cook using residual heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a serving platter and top with almonds. Garnish with more thyme, if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh, not frozen, green beans and consider using pre-snipped to save time.
- If doubling the recipe, be sure to cook beans in 2 batches. Overcrowding the skillet will prevent the beans from searing well.
- Use your favorite chili powder, like ancho, chipotle, or aleppo.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Sides
- Method: Sautee
- Cuisine: American
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