Green Bean Almondine

Ingredients

• Green beans (1 pound, trimmed)
• Unsalted butter (3 tablespoons)
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons, freshly squeezed)
• Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
• Black pepper (1/4 teaspoon, freshly cracked)
• Sliced almonds (1/3 cup, toasted)
• Lemon zest (1 teaspoon, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the trimmed green beans and cook until crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Drain the green beans and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. This will help retain their vibrant green color.
3. In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to let it burn.
4. Add the cooked green beans to the skillet and toss to coat them evenly in the garlic butter.
5. Squeeze the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the green beans and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss again to combine the flavors.
6. Add the toasted sliced almonds to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring gently until the almonds are golden brown and the green beans are heated through.
7. Remove from heat and serve the Green Bean Almondine immediately, garnished with lemon zest and additional fresh herbs if desired.