Last Updated on April 7, 2025 by Carne Diem
Method: Stovetop or Blackstone
Jump to RecipeLooking for a simple yet elegant side dish that will impress your guests? Look no further than Haricots Verts Amandine. This classic French side dish, also known as Green Beans Amandine or Green Beans Almondine, is a delightful combination of tender green beans and buttery, toasted almonds. It's perfect for holiday dinners, dinner parties, weeknight dinners, or any occasion where you want to add a touch of sophistication to your meal.
Table of contents
Elevate Your Side Dish Game: Haricots Verts Amandine
In this blog post we will break down the epic green bean recipe and show you just how easy it is to make this new favorite side dish. We will show you the traditional way of making Green Beans and Almonds on your stovetop and how to make fantastic haricots verts amandine of your Blackstone or griddle.
What is Haricots Verts Amandine?
Before we dive into the recipe, let's clarify what haricots verts are. Haricots verts is the French term for thin green beans or French string beans. They are more slender and tender than regular green beans found in many grocery stores in the United States. While you can use regular green beans if haricots verts are unavailable, the thin green beans provide a more delicate texture and cook more quickly.
"Amandine" is a French term that refers to a dish garnished with almonds, typically toasted almonds and butter. This almond garnish adds a wonderful crisp texture, nutty aromas, and buttery richness to the dish.
Looking for more great side dishes. Be sure to try some of your favorite sides to serve with smoked and grilled meats:
- Grilled Corn and Goat Cheese Salad
- Kansas City Cheesy Corn
- Mashed Potato Cakes
- Smoked Mac and Cheese
- Grilled Endive Salad
Making Haricots Verts Amandine at Home
One of the great things about this recipe is its simplicity. With very little effort you can make this elegant green bean side dish at home.
What you will need to make the Green Beans with Almonds
This Green Beans Almondine recipe uses simple ingredients and is easy to follow, even if it’s your first time making it. Here is what you will need:
1 pound haricots verts: If at all possible try to find true haricots verts. These French style green beans are thinner and cook more evenly. If you can't find them you can substitute regular green beans.
Butter: You will need about 4 tablespoons of butter to cook the green beans. Unsalted butter or salted butter can be used.
Almond slices or toasted almonds: Almond slices are the heart and soul of this elegant green bean recipe.
Garlic and shallot: Mince the garlic, and finely chop the shallot.
Fresh lemon juice: To finish the dish you will need a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Salt and Black pepper: Season to taste.
Step by Step Instructions
Blanch the Green Beans: The first step is to blanch the green beans. Bring a large pot of boiling salted water to a rolling boil. Add the haricots verts and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they are bright green and crisp-tender. Don't overcook them; you want them to retain a crisp texture.
Ice Bath: Immediately transfer the blanched green beans to a large bowl filled with ice water or an ice bath. This stops the cooking process and preserves their vibrant color. This is the preferred method for maintaining the crisp green beans.
Toast Almonds: While the green beans are chilling, toast the almond slices. You can do this in a dry frying pan or large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. Alternatively, you can toast the almonds in butter, which is our preferred method.
Sauté in Butter: Melt the butter in a large skillet, frying pan, or Blackstone over medium heat. You can cook the butter until it starts to brown for a brown butter flavor. Be careful to not burn the butter. Add the almonds and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Combine: While the almonds are cooking, drain the green beans well and pat them dry with paper towels. Add the blanched green beans and shallot to the skillet with the melted butter and almonds. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add the minced garlic and cook one additional minute.
Season and Finish: Remove the skillet from the heat or remove the beans from the griddle. Stir well to combine then season with the fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Serve: Transfer the Haricots Verts Amandine to a serving dish. Serve immediately.
Top Tips for Perfect Haricots Verts Amandine
- Don't Overcook: Overcooked green beans will be mushy. The ice bath is crucial for stopping the cooking and maintaining a crisp texture.
- Toast the Almonds Properly: Toasted almonds add so much to this dish. Make sure they are golden brown and fragrant, but not burnt.
- Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh green beans and fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Make-Ahead Tips: You can blanch the green beans and toast the almonds ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight container in the refrigerator at room temperature. Just before serving, sauté the green beans in butter and combine with the almond mixture.
Serving Suggestions
Haricots Verts Amandine is a versatile side dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses. It’s a classic French recipe that is perfect for a holiday meal, holiday table, or even a simple weeknight dinners. Pair the French green bean recipe with some of our favorite meals:
- Easy Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast
- Smoked Turkey Roulade: Rolled Turkey Breast with Fresh Herbs, Black Garlic, and Prosciutto
- Spicy Cheese Stuffed Smoked Meatloaf
- Sous Vide Tafelspitz: Austrian Tri Tip Roast
- Smoked Prime Rib
- Smothered Francesinha Sandwich
This Haricots Verts Amandine recipe is a delicious side dish that is sure to become a new favorite. With its simple ingredients and easy cooking process, it’s the best way to elevate your side dish game. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use regular green beans if haricots verts are not available. However, be aware that regular green beans are generally thicker and may require slightly longer cooking times to reach the desired crisp-tender texture. Some recipes suggest steaming regular green beans for a couple of minutes longer than haricots verts.
Yes, components of the dish can be prepared in advance. You can blanch the green beans a day or two ahead and store them in the refrigerator. The almonds can also be toasted in advance and stored in an airtight container. However, it is generally best to assemble the final dish just before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor. Reheating the assembled dish can make the beans less crisp and the almonds lose their crunch.
Thanks again for visiting Carne Diem. If you tried and enjoyed our recipe, please share with others. Also don’t forget to tag us @Carne_Diem_Culinary or #CarneDiemBlog, we love to see your pics! To be notified of future recipes please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, or sign up for our e-mail notifications.
📖 Recipe
French Green Beans with Almonds
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Haricots Verts thin green beans, trimmed
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- ½ Cup Almond slices
- 1 Shallot Finley chopped
- 1 Garlic Clove Minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice or a squeeze of lemon
- Black Pepper To taste
- Salt To taste
Instructions
- Trim the ends from the haricot verts. Mince the garlic and finely chop the shallot.
- Bring a pot of well salted water to a rolling boil. Boil the beans for about 3 minutes. Drain the beans and place in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
- Heat your skillet or Blackstone over medium heat. Melt the butter. When the butter is melted and frothy add the sliced almonds and brown for 1-2 minutes taking care not to burn them.
- Add the blanched beans and the shallot and sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Remove from the heat and to a serving dish. Season with the fresh lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
Comments
No Comments