This time of year calls for comforting, beautiful side dishes that truly complete your holiday table. Our Christmas Green Beans Recipe with Toasted Almonds is a timeless classic, yet incredibly simple to prepare. It features tender-crisp green beans tossed in a rich, buttery almond-shallot sauce. This festive dish adds an elegant touch to any holiday gathering, making it a perfect choice for busy hosts.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Green Beans Recipe
This elegant Christmas Green Beans Recipe is a guaranteed crowd-placer for many reasons.
- It looks stunningly sophisticated, yet requires minimal effort to create.
- You’ll adore the delightful combination of rich, buttery notes and crunchy, toasted almonds.
- The entire dish comes together in one skillet, simplifying both cooking and cleanup.
- It offers a wonderfully fresh, vibrant contrast to heavier holiday entrées.
- Even beginner cooks can master this impressive holiday green bean side.
Ingredients
This delightful Christmas Green Beans Recipe requires just a few fresh ingredients to create its incredible flavor. Gather these items to get started on your perfect holiday side dish. Each component plays a vital role in making these green beans truly special.
- Unsalted butter, sliced (2 tbsp)
- Sliced almonds (½ cup)
- Shallot, thinly sliced (¼ cup, 1 small)
- Fresh green beans, trimmed (1 lb)
- Lemon juice, fresh (2 tsp)
- Water, divided (1 tbsp + ½ cup)
- Fine salt, to taste (½ tsp)
- Black pepper, freshly ground (to taste)
Notes & Substitutions
- Dairy-Free/Vegan: Easily make this festive green bean side plant-based. Simply use a high-quality olive oil or your favorite vegan butter alternative instead of regular butter.
- Nut-Free: If you have allergies or preferences, substitute pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) for the almonds. You can also omit the nuts entirely for a plain buttered green bean preparation.
- Garlic: For an extra layer of savory flavor, add one or two minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Cook them along with the shallots until fragrant.
- Green Beans: While regular fresh green beans work well, fresh haricots verts (French green beans) are preferred. They are typically thinner and more tender, cooking slightly faster.
Equipment
You won’t need many special tools for this simple yet elegant holiday green bean side. A few basic kitchen items are all it takes to bring this dish to life. Get ready to cook with ease.
- Large skillet with a tight-fitting lid
- Heatproof spatula or a sturdy wooden spoon
- Small bowl for temporarily holding the almond mixture
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your delicious Christmas Green Beans Recipe. This easy-to-follow guide ensures perfect results every time, even for beginner cooks. Get ready to impress your holiday guests with this flavorful side dish.
- Melt the unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. The butter should begin to foam slightly.
- Add the sliced almonds to the skillet with the melted butter. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter turns a light golden-brown color and the almonds are fragrant and lightly toasted. This typically takes about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the thinly sliced shallot. Cook for about 1 minute more, stirring, until the shallot softens slightly and becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the shallots.
- Pour in the fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water. Stir well to combine. Continue cooking for another minute or two, allowing the liquid to thicken slightly and coat the almonds and shallots.
- Carefully transfer the toasted almond and shallot mixture from the skillet into a small, heatproof bowl. Set this mixture aside for later. This step prevents the almonds from getting soggy.
- Add the trimmed fresh green beans, ½ cup of water, and ½ teaspoon of fine salt to the empty skillet. Stir gently to distribute the beans and salt.
- Cover the skillet with its lid. Cook the green beans over medium heat for approximately 9-10 minutes. The goal is for the beans to become tender-crisp, meaning they are cooked through but still have a slight bite.
Understanding what makes vegetables “tender-crisp” is key to achieving the right texture, as explained by culinary experts. To learn more about this cooking term, read What Does It Mean to Cook a Vegetable Until ‘Tender-Crisp’?
- Remove the lid from the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high. Continue to cook the green beans, stirring occasionally, until all the remaining liquid has evaporated from the pan. This usually takes 2-4 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat immediately. Return the reserved toasted almond and shallot mixture to the skillet with the cooked green beans.
- Toss everything together gently using your spatula or spoon until the green beans are evenly coated. Taste the dish and season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
- Serve your delightful green bean preparation warm immediately as a perfect holiday side.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Achieve perfect results with your festive green beans every time by keeping these simple tips in mind. Even beginners can master this easy side dish.
- Browning Butter: Keep a close eye on the butter as it browns. It can go from perfectly nutty to burnt very quickly. Stir constantly and remove from heat if it starts to darken too fast.
For a detailed guide on how to perfectly brown butter, including tips and tricks, check out this resource: How to Brown Butter
- Almond Toasting: Stir the almonds frequently and evenly in the butter. This ensures they toast uniformly and develop that beautiful golden color and crunchy texture.
- Perfect Doneness: Avoid overcooking your green beans. They should be vibrant green and tender-crisp, not mushy. Start checking for doneness around the 8-minute mark.
- Adjust Seasoning: Always taste your green beans before serving. Adjust the salt and a squeeze of extra fresh lemon juice if needed to brighten the flavors.
Serving, Storage & Variations
This versatile Christmas Green Beans Recipe pairs wonderfully with a variety of holiday mains and can be adapted to your preferences. Plan ahead for easy entertaining and savor every bite.
- Serving Suggestions: These elegant green beans are a quintessential holiday side. They perfectly complement roasted turkey, baked ham, prime rib, or even a festive glazed salmon.
- Storage: Store any leftover green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Gently warm the leftovers in a skillet over low heat until just heated through, or in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes. Avoid microwaving for best texture.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the toasted almond and shallot mixture several hours in advance and store it at room temperature. Cook the green beans fresh just before serving, then combine. This significantly speeds up last-minute holiday meal prep.
- Variations: Experiment with flavors! Stir in some fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives at the end. For a brighter, more aromatic twist, add a pinch of orange zest along with the lemon juice.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this dish. The green beans tend to become mushy, and the almonds lose their desired crunch after thawing.
Nutrition Information
This estimated nutritional data for our Christmas Green Beans Recipe with Toasted Almonds is provided per serving. Please remember that these values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120 |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 120mg |
| Total Carb | 8g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| Total Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 4g |
FAQ
Got questions about this easy Christmas Green Beans Recipe? We’ve got answers to help you make this holiday side dish a success.
- Can I use frozen green beans for this recipe? Yes, you can. Do not thaw them first; add them directly to the skillet and reduce the initial ½ cup of water slightly as frozen beans release more moisture. Adjust cooking time until tender-crisp.
- Can I add garlic to this recipe? Absolutely, minced garlic is a great addition! Add 1-2 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet at the same time you add the shallots, cooking until fragrant.
- How do I make this dish ahead for Christmas? You can prepare the toasted almond and shallot topping ahead of time and store it. Then, cook the green beans right before your meal and combine everything at the last minute for optimal freshness and texture.
- What if my green beans turn brown instead of staying vibrant green? This can happen from overcooking or not having enough moisture. Ensure you cook the beans just until tender-crisp. Blanching beans briefly before the main cooking step can also help retain their beautiful color.
Conclusion
This Christmas Green Beans Recipe with Toasted Almonds is truly a holiday superstar. It offers an irresistible blend of tender green beans, nutty almonds, and savory shallots, all bathed in a bright lemon-butter sauce. Simple to make yet incredibly elegant, it frees you up to enjoy your guests while still delivering a show-stopping side dish. We hope you and your loved ones enjoy this delicious, easy recipe and have a wonderful, flavorful holiday season!
