Green Beans Almondine

Ingredients

• Green beans (1 pound, trimmed)
• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons, freshly squeezed)
• Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
• Sliced almonds (1/3 cup)
• Unsalted butter (4 tablespoons)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans and blanch them for about 3 minutes, until they are bright green and crisp-tender.
2. Drain the green beans and immediately rinse them under cold running water to halt the cooking process and preserve their vibrant color.
3. In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the sliced almonds and sauté them for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are golden and fragrant.
4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until it becomes fragrant but not browned.
5. Add the blanched green beans to the skillet, tossing them gently to coat with the almond-butter mixture. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the beans are heated through.
6. Remove the skillet from heat and drizzle the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the green beans. Season generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Serve the Green Beans Almondine warm, garnished with additional toasted almonds if desired.