Green Beans Recipe
Make Green Beans Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Fresh green beans
Finish & seasoning
Method
Fresh green beans
- 1
Trim and rinse
Rinse the green beans under cold running water. Trim the stem ends (and tails if desired) by snapping or cutting so beans are roughly uniform in length.
- 2
Prepare blanching setup
Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon coarse salt to the boiling water. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with cold water and lots of ice to create an ice bath.
- 3
Blanch the beans
Add the trimmed green beans to the boiling salted water. Blanch until bright green and just tender-crisp, about 2.5–3.5 minutes depending on thickness. Test by tasting one: it should yield slightly when bitten but still have snap.
- 4
Shock in ice bath
Quickly transfer the beans with a slotted spoon or a sieve to the prepared ice bath to stop cooking. Let them chill for 2–3 minutes until completely cool. Drain thoroughly and pat dry on clean kitchen towels or paper towels.
Finish & seasoning
- 5
Cook aromatics
In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter foams and the skillet is hot, add the finely minced shallot. Cook, stirring, until softened and translucent, about 2–3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes; cook about 30–45 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- 6
Sauté beans
Add the blanched, drained green beans to the skillet and toss to coat in the butter-and-shallot mixture. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and edges develop light caramelization spots. If the pan seems dry, add an additional 1 teaspoon olive oil or a pat of butter.
- 7
Season and finish
Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste), and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or lemon as desired.
- 8
Add optional garnish
If using toasted sliced almonds, sprinkle 2 tablespoons over the beans and toss gently. To toast: place almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and stir for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden—watch closely to prevent burning.
- 9
Serve
Transfer green beans to a serving bowl or platter, garnish with an additional small pinch of lemon zest or a lemon wedge if desired. Serve warm.