The holiday meal planning rush is real, isn’t it? You’re juggling the turkey timing, perfecting that mashed potato fluff, and suddenly you look down and realize you forgot the green vegetable! We all fall into that casserole trap sometimes, but trust me, you need something bright and fresh to cut through all that richness. That’s where my grandmother’s **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** swoops in to save the day. It’s elegant, it’s buttery, and it comes together faster than you can set the holiday table!
This dish has always held a special place in my heart. Growing up, Grandma served this alongside every single Christmas roast—a vibrant, buttery contrast to all the heavy dishes. She always believed every festive plate needed something fresh and vibrant, and honestly, she was completely right about that!
Years later, when I finally started hosting my own big family dinners, I found myself immediately turning back to her handwritten recipe. Toasting those almonds, adding just that splash of lemon for brightness… watching those green beans glisten as they married the butter in the pan just instantly transports me back to our bustling family kitchen. That aroma alone is pure nostalgia. Now, this simple side is non-negotiable in my spread; it’s comforting, familiar, and carries those beautiful memories forward with every single bite.
Why This Holiday Green Bean Almondine is Your New Christmas Dinner Essential
You need this dish on your table, I promise. When you’re dealing with big roasts and heavy gravies, you want a side that sings a little, offering a fresh counterpoint. This Almondine is my go-to for simplifying my **Christmas Cooking** load while upping the elegance factor.
Here’s why I swear by it:
- It comes together in about 20 minutes total—that’s basically nothing when you’re coordinating a full **Christmas Meal**!
- The combination of toasty almonds, bright lemon, and buttery beans offers that much-needed flavor lift against heavier anchor dishes.
- It’s a tried-and-true classic. When you need a reliable **Holiday Food** centerpiece vegetable, you can’t beat this one. If you’re looking for inspiration for your main course centerpiece, check out my guide to Christmas Dinner Ideas!
Gathering Ingredients for Perfect Holiday Green Bean Almondine
You don’t need a pantry full of specialty items for this dish to shine! The beauty of this classic **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** is that it takes simple, fresh ingredients and elevates them with a little quick technique. Quality really matters here, especially when we’re focusing on crispness and brightness for your big **Holiday Food** spread.
Essential Components for the Holiday Green Bean Almondine
Here is exactly what you’ll need to pull this off without any fuss:
- Kosher salt to taste—don’t skip this for the boiling water!
- 1 lb. haricots verts (those lovely French green beans, and yes, they must be trimmed!)
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter—use the real stuff, please!
- 1/2 cup raw sliced almonds—these are our stars!
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon—this is where the fresh magic comes from!
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Holiday Green Bean Almondine
Okay, this is where we turn those fresh ingredients into the most gorgeous side dish for your **Christmas Meals**. The process is split into two main parts: getting those beans perfectly vibrant and then building that amazing buttery almond flavor. Don’t rush the cooling step; it’s essential for keeping their texture just right!
Blanching and Cooling the Green Beans
First things first, get a big pot of water boiling and make sure you salt it well—it should taste like the sea! Toss in your trimmed haricots verts. Now, here’s the secret Grandma told me: cook them for only 2 to 3 minutes. We want them *crisp-tender*, which means they should still have a bite. We aren’t boiling them into mush!
As soon as those 3 minutes are up, use a slotted spoon and plunge them straight into your ice bath. That shock is what stops the cooking instantly and locks in that vibrant green color we all love. Let them hang out in the ice for a minute or two, then drain them really, really well. Make sure you get most of that water off before moving on!
Toasting Almonds and Finishing the Holiday Green Bean Almondine
Now grab your biggest skillet. Melt your butter over medium-low heat until it’s just starting to bubble sweetly. Toss in your sliced almonds and keep them moving constantly. You’re waiting for them to turn that perfect golden brown, which usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes. You’ll smell that nutty aroma wafting up—wow!
Once the almonds are toasted, quickly drop the heat down to low. Add your finely chopped shallots and garlic. Cook them just until they smell fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. If you’re cooking other things for your Christmas Dinner Recipes, keep a close eye on this step because low heat is key so the garlic doesn’t burn!
Finally, add those drained green beans back into the skillet. Toss everything together until the beans are fully coated. Right at the very end, stir in that fresh lemon zest and the juice. Finish it off with salt and pepper to taste. That bright pop of lemon really makes this dish sing!
Tips for Making the Best Holiday Green Bean Almondine
When you’re planning your **Christmas Cooking**, nobody wants a side dish that flops! This **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** is so simple, but those little details really make the difference between good and absolutely spectacular. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks from my Grandma, mostly about paying attention to textures and making sure the butter respects the almonds.
First up, let’s talk about texture. That crisp-tender goal is crucial. Remember, we aren’t trying to make a mushy can of beans here. The ice bath is your best friend, so don’t skip that—it halts the cooking process instantly, keeping those beans snappy and that gorgeous green color locked in tight. If you’re making this for a big spread, honestly, it’s totally worth getting your stove burners set up so you can blanch quickly while focusing on other elements of your **Holiday Food**.
And please, use **real, unsalted butter** for melting! I know some recipes suggest oil, but butter is the flavor backbone of this dish. When you melt it slowly over medium-low heat, you create this rich nutty base that coats everything perfectly. Think of it as the sauce for our beans. If you want to get extra fancy, you could even brown the butter slightly—just make sure you watch the heat carefully before you add the shallots! For more inspiration on festive cooking, take a peek at my general tips for Christmas Cooking success.
To maximize that almond flavor—which is half the point of this side dish—make sure you’re giving them space and time in the skillet *before* they meet the shallots and garlic. They need that direct heat to toast evenly and release all their beautiful oils. If you toss them in too early with the moisture from the beans or the shallots, they end up steaming, and steamed almonds are just sad almonds!
Making Your Holiday Green Bean Almondine Ahead of Time
Oh, I totally get it—holiday cooking is a marathon, not a sprint! If you want to make your life easier on the big day, you absolutely can prep components for this **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** ahead of time. But here’s my golden rule: keep the textures separate until the very last minute, or you’ll lose that beautiful snap in the beans and the crunch in the almonds!
You can handle the green beans up to a day in advance, which is a huge win when you’re juggling your make-ahead Christmas breakfast casseroles or other sides. Simply follow Step 1: boil them until crisp-tender and immediately plunge them into the ice bath. Drain them super well after they cool, toss them in an airtight container, and stick them right in the fridge unseasoned.
The almonds are another excellent thing to prep earlier! Toast them just as described in the recipe—until they are perfectly golden. Let them cool completely, and then keep them in a separate, airtight container on the counter. Do *not* store them in the fridge, as condensation can make them soft. Keep the shallots and garlic peeled and finely chopped in little baggies in the fridge, too.
When it’s time to serve, all you have to do is melt the butter and sauté the aromatics, add the pre-blanched beans, toss everything together quickly to heat through, and then stir in the toasted almonds and lemon right at the end. This way, the beans are heated through but still firm, and those almonds stay wonderfully crunchy. It makes the final plating process a total breeze!
Serving Suggestions for Your Festive Holiday Green Bean Almondine
This bright, lemony **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** is such a wonderful supporting actor in any big holiday lineup. Because it has that beautiful butter and fresh lemon punch, it pairs perfectly with richer mains that need something light to balance them out. It looks gorgeous next to a big roasted turkey or a holiday ham!
If you’re looking for that perfect centerpiece to serve this alongside, you absolutely have to check out my recipe for Filet Mignon with Mushroom Sauce—the richness of the beef complements the brightness of the beans perfectly. For even more ideas on assembling your ultimate **Christmas Meals**, think about balancing texture too! We love having a creamy potato dish nearby, maybe some roasted root vegetables, and definitely something sweet or savory for **Christmas Dessert Ideas** later on.
It’s just the guaranteed way to make sure your plating looks vibrant and your guests feel like they’re eating something truly special, not just an afterthought side!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Holiday Green Bean Almondine
If you manage to have any of this gorgeousness left over—which, wow, good job feeding everyone!—storing it is simple. But reheating? That takes a tiny bit of care. We want to serve these beans and almonds as close to their perfect, freshly tossed state as possible, and the microwave is definitely the enemy of crispness!
For storage, first let any leftovers cool down to room temperature. Don’t seal them up hot, or you’ll steam-cook them inside the container! Once they’re cool, transfer them to a small, airtight container. They hold up really well in the fridge for about 3 days. The flavors actually deepen a little bit overnight, which is nice, but the almonds might lose that fresh-from-the-pan crunch.
When you’re ready to bring them back to life, forget the microwave unless you absolutely have no other choice. The microwave turns those crisp-tender beans rubbery and makes the almonds soggy fast. Instead, you want to reheat them gently on the stovetop, just like we made them!
Grab a clean skillet and melt about half a tablespoon of fresh butter over medium heat—just enough to coat the bottom. Toss the cold beans in and let them warm up slowly, stirring occasionally until they are heated through. This usually only takes 3 to 5 minutes. If the flavor seems a little dull, stir in just a tiny squeeze of fresh lemon juice right at the end. If you toasted them really well the first time, they should still have a decent bite left, even after chilling. It’s the only way to do justice to your beautiful **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** leftovers!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Classic Side Dish
It’s funny how often people ask about swaps and timing when it comes to holiday prep! Everyone wants their **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** to be perfect, and I totally get that when you’re planning complicated **Christmas Meals**. Here are the questions I get asked most often about nailing this classic side dish.
Can I substitute the almonds in this Holiday Green Bean Almondine?
Absolutely, you can! While the almonds give it that signature texture, if you have a nut allergy or just prefer something different, pecans or even toasted pine nuts work beautifully. If you switch to pecans or walnuts, you might notice they take just a tiny bit longer to toast up because they are a bit thicker, so keep stirring them gently in the butter for an extra minute or so. They still need that golden color, so use your eyes and your nose!
What if I don’t have haricots verts for my Christmas Cooking?
Don’t stress if your market is out of those specific skinny French beans! Standard, fresh green beans—the kind you usually buy—will work just fine. The only real difference is that they tend to be a little bigger in diameter. Because of this, you might need to boil them for maybe one minute longer than the haricots verts. You are still aiming for crisp-tender, though. Trust your timing and check them frequently. They make a wonderful centerpiece for any of your Christmas Dinner Recipes!
How do I keep the green beans bright green?
This is the absolute key to making any green vegetable look festive and fresh on your holiday table! The secret is 100% in the ice bath—that immediate shock is non-negotiable. You boil them quickly, which sets the color, and then plunging them straight into the ice water stops the cooking completely and freezes that intense, vibrant green color in place. If you skip the ice, they are destined to turn dull olive green, which is just no fun for a beautiful **Holiday Food** display.
Nutritional Snapshot of Your Holiday Green Bean Almondine
Now, I know that when we’re deep into planning **Christmas Meals** and thinking about big dinners, we sometimes forget how light and fresh this **Holiday Green Bean Almondine** actually is! Even with the butter and those lovely toasted almonds, this side dish really holds its own nutritionally. If you are looking for lighter options alongside your heavy favorites, you might want to check out my collection of low-calorie foods for other inspiration!
But remember, these numbers are just estimates based on the recipe details for four servings. Every kitchen scales ingredients a little differently, right? Still, it gives you a good idea of what you’re working with for this wonderful **Holiday Food**!
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 15g (That’s mostly the healthy fats from the almonds!)
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 4g
See? It’s packed with flavor from the lemon and herbs, has a good crunch from the nuts, and won’t weigh down your plate. It’s the perfect, elegant green vegetable to round out any **Christmas Sweet** or savory celebration!
Print
Holiday Green Bean Almondine
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This recipe offers a classic, elegant side dish featuring crisp-tender green beans tossed with buttery, toasted almonds and bright lemon zest, perfect for any festive meal.
Ingredients
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 lb. haricots verts (French green beans), trimmed
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water. Cook green beans until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately transfer beans to the ice bath using a slotted spoon. Drain the beans.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until lightly bubbling. Add almonds and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add green beans and toss until combined and the beans are tender. Stir in lemon zest and juice, tossing to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- For best results, cook the green beans until they are slightly undercooked, as they will finish cooking when tossed with the other ingredients.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the brightest flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 15
Keywords: Holiday Green Bean Almondine, Green Bean Almondine, Holiday Side Dish, Christmas Dinner Ideas, Green Beans with Almonds, Lemon Green Beans, Festive Side