Recipes › Snap Bean › Haricots Verts Amandine
Haricots Verts Amandine
Slender snap beans are blanched until perfectly tender-crisp, then tossed in a skillet with golden browned butter and toasted slivered almonds in the classic French amandine preparation. A squeeze of lemon at the end brightens the rich, nutty butter and makes this one of the most elegant vegetable side dishes in the French repertoire. It takes fifteen minutes and tastes like a restaurant.
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Ingredients
- 1 lb snap beans (haricots verts), trimmed
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup slivered almondsSliced almonds
- 1 small lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced (optional)
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Contains: milk, nuts.
Method
- Blanch snap beans in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes until just tender-crisp and bright green. Drain and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry.About 7 min
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add slivered almonds and cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes until both butter and almonds are golden brown and smell nutty. Watch carefully as both can burn quickly.About 4 min
- Add garlic slices if using and stir for 30 seconds. Add blanched beans to the skillet and toss to coat in the brown butter. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 1-2 minutes just to heat through.About 3 min
- Remove from heat. Add lemon juice and zest and toss once more. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.About 1 min
Tips
- Dry the blanched beans thoroughly with a kitchen towel before adding to the butter — excess water will cause dangerous splattering.
- Brown butter and almonds can go from golden to burnt in seconds; do not leave the pan.
- Use the thinnest snap beans you can find (true haricots verts) for the most elegant result.
Ring the changes
- Add 2 tbsp of capers with the beans for a piquant, brine-forward variation.
- Replace almonds with pine nuts and finish with grated parmesan for an Italian-inspired version.
Keeping it
Best served immediately. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 2 days but lose their texture. Reheat in a hot skillet with a small knob of butter.
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The definitive Thanksgiving side dish, this creamy casserole combines tender snap beans with a rich mushroom cream sauce and is crowned with a thick layer of crispy fried onions that everyone fights over. It is the recipe that has appeared on millions of American holiday tables since the 1950s, and for very good reason. Made from scratch, it is far superior to any version using canned soup.
55 min · medium · Snap Bean
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