Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon
Don’t overlook a humble bag of green beans! In my opinion, they make for one of the best savory side dishes. They’re easy to cook and come out crisp and tender every time.
And while I love making my air fryer green beans, sautéing them on the stovetop is equally delicious. All you need to do is add shallots, honey, and lemon to take it up a notch!
How To Prep Green Beans
Before we get to cooking, green beans (also known as string beans) need to be quickly trimmed. Just slice off the ends with a knife or by hand. If the ends are already detached, then you can skip this step and go straight to blanching.
How To Boil and Sauté Green Beans
To get the beans cooked through and tender, just give them a quick blanch in boiling water before sautéeing. Here’s the process:
Blanch the green beans in a pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Cool and drain. Transfer the green beans in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Once cool, drain and set aside.Heat the butter (or oil) in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add in the diced shallots and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add honey for a little sweetness and stir for a minute more. Transfer the green beans and lemon zest to the pan and mix well. Season with salt, pepper, and serve!
Want more garnish options? While lemon zest is one way of dressing up your green beans, you can garnish with a few other ingredients to spice it up or add some texture. Just use:
Toasted almond slices Crushed pistachiosShredded parmesan cheeseCrispy bacon bits Chili Flakes or powder
What To Eat With Them?
Sautéed green beans have a simple fresh flavor, which makes them perfect for pairing with any savory main course. A few of my favorite options are:
Crispy Baked Chicken ThighsSweet and Smoky BrisketCabernet Braised Short RibsPrime RibDijon Baked Salmon
If you have a lot of green beans, you can also turn them into a healthy green bean casserole!
Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon
from votes Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 10 minutes Total: 15 minutes Servings: 4 PrintPinReviewSaveSaved
Description
Green beans with shallots and lemon are a simple yet flavorful side dish. This is one of my favorite green bean recipes and it’s easy to make.
Ingredients
1 lb green beans2 shallots, finely diced1 tbsp butter, or olive oil1 tbsp honey1 lemon, zestedsalt and pepper
Instructions
Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil.Add the green beans and blanch in the boiling water for 3-4 minutes. While the beans are cooking, fill a large bowl with ice water. Drain the beans with a colander and immediately transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.Heat the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced shallots and saute for 1-2 minutes.Add the honey to the pan and stir with the shallots for a minute more.Add the green beans and lemon zest to the pan and stir together for a couple of minutes, until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 93.04kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.85g | Protein: 2.73g | Fat: 3.18g | Saturated Fat: 1.87g | Cholesterol: 7.53mg | Sodium: 34.05mg | Potassium: 318.28mg | Fiber: 4.22g | Sugar: 9.67g | Vitamin A: 869.91IU | Vitamin C: 29.15mg | Calcium: 53.6mg | Iron: 1.48mg Course: Side Dish Cuisine: American Keyword: Green Bean Recipe, Green Beans
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Recipe originally posted October 2014, but updated to include new photos and information.