Green Bean Amandine

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/18/21
Green bean amandine recipe

The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
108 Calories
9g Fat
7g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 93mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 10mg 48%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 199mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This simple and delicious side dish recipe for green beans amandine (green beans with almonds) is perfect for just about any meal or occasion. Also, it is popularly called green beans almondine.

This is a classic French dish—haricots verts amandine—quite simply meaning "green beans with almonds." The key here is to not mince your terms. You want to prepare your green beans "French-style," not "French cut." French cut is a distinct culinary term meaning to cut the entire length of the green bean from top to bottom, sheering it half lengthwise. You do not want to do that (although you can if you want). For this recipe, all you need to do is just snip the rough ends off the tips off of each green bean.

This dish is very easy to make and the perfect complement to everything from roasted chicken and grilled steak to hamburgers and Thanksgiving dinner.

Amandine is a culinary term that indicates that a dish is cooked with almonds. Dishes prepared this way are usually cooked with butter and seasonings, then sprinkled with whole or flaked, toasted almonds. Amandine is often spelled "almondine" in American cooking. Other popular dishes that are prepared amandine include potatoes, fish, and asparagus.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh green beans

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds (toasted, if desired)

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for green bean amandine
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  2. Trim the beans, cutting off a small part of each end. Look over the beans, discarding beans that are wrinkled, limp, or have soft spots. Rinse the beans well and pat dry.

    Trim beans
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  3. In a heavy saucepan, place the green beans in cold water to cover and bring to a boil over high heat.

    Place green beans in cold water
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until the beans are crisp-tender. Drain well and set the beans aside.

    Reduce heat
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel 

  5. Melt the butter and olive oil in the same saucepan and add the garlic and almonds. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the almonds begin to brown.

    Melt butter
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  6. Add the beans along with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper and toss gently to coat.

    Add beans
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  7. Serve immediately and enjoy.

    Serve
    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

Recipe Variations

  • Frozen beans: You can also use frozen green beans; cook them according to the package directions, then drain. Melt butter, add garlic and almonds and continue with the recipe.
  • For garlic lovers: For a more intense garlic flavor, you can take an extra step to roast some garlic. Cut the top 1/3 off garlic heads, exposing the cloves. Place the garlic in a foil-lined baking dish cut side up. Pour olive oil over the garlic and season with salt. Fold up the foil to seal and create a tight packet. Bake in the oven until a paring knife inserts easily into the center of a garlic clove, about 1 hour. Toss the roasted garlic cloves into the dish at the end. 
  • Cheesy garnish: A couple ounces of crumbled blue cheese works surprisingly well as an added flavor profile for this dish.