Sep 09 2026
Restaurants›Kona Grill - San Antonio at North Star›Sautéed Green Beans Recipe

Sautéed Green Beans Recipe

Inspired by Kona Grill - San Antonio at North Star
Time25m
Serves4

Make Sautéed Green Beans Recipe in just 25m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Green Beans

Sauté Base

Seasoning & Finish

Method

Green Beans

  1. 1

    Trim and rinse

    Rinse 1 lb fresh green beans under cold water. Trim the stem ends (and tails if desired) so beans are uniform in length for even cooking.

  2. 2

    Blanch

    Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a generous pinch of salt, then add the trimmed green beans. Blanch for 2–3 minutes until bright green and just tender-crisp.

  3. 3

    Shock

    Immediately transfer the blanched beans to a bowl of ice and 2 cups cold water to stop cooking and preserve color. Let sit 2 minutes, then drain thoroughly and pat dry with a towel or paper towels.

Sauté

  1. 4

    Heat fat

    Heat a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tbs unsalted butter. Warm until butter is foaming and oil shimmers but not smoking (about 1 minute).

  2. 5

    Aromatics

    Add 2 tsp minced or thinly sliced garlic and 1 tbs finely minced shallot (if using). Sauté, stirring constantly, for 30–45 seconds until fragrant and just starting to color—do not let garlic burn.

  3. 6

    Sauté beans

    Add the drained green beans to the pan in a single layer if possible. Sauté, tossing or stirring every 30 seconds, for 4–5 minutes until beans are heated through and develop light blistering or browning in spots. If beans need a little steam to finish, add 1–2 tbs water and cover for 30–45 seconds, then remove cover and continue sautéing to evaporate excess moisture.

Season & Finish

  1. 7

    Season

    Season the beans with 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Toss to distribute seasonings evenly.

  2. 8

    Finish with brightness and crunch

    Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 tsp fresh lemon juice. If using, add 2 tbs toasted or slivered almonds for crunch. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.

  3. 9

    Serve

    Transfer the sautéed green beans to a serving platter and serve immediately while hot and crisp-tender.

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