Lemony Green Beans

Lemony Green Beans sides These lemony green beans are a flavorful light and fresh green beans recipe. They make the perfect side dish for any meal. veggie sides Lemony Green Beans green beans, lemons

These lemony green beans are a flavorful light and fresh green beans recipe. They make the perfect side dish for any meal. They are so quick and easy to make. Simply steam or boil your green beans until tender-crisp, blend up a simple lemony Dijon shallot dressing. Toss the green beans with the dressing and top with toasted chopped walnuts. Adding the tasty dressing post-boil/steam means a pop of delicious flavor. This lemon-forward sauce is simple and incredibly tasty.

Lemony Green Beans

Lemony Green Beans Recipe Ingredients (complete recipe in recipe card)

  • GREEN BEANS: French green beans are best for this recipe.They are a shorter and thinner variety and cook quicker. I also recommend fresh green beans for best texture but frozen green beans can definitely work in a pinch. This recipe is good for 1 to 1 ½ lbs of green beans.
  • LEMON JUICE & LEMON ZEST: Fresh lemon juice and zest is what I recommend using for best flavor.
  • SHALLOT: I like the mild sweet flavour the shallot adds to anything. You will need 1 small shallot or ¼-½ of a large one.
  • GARLIC: It adds great flavor to the dressing. All you need is one small clove minced.
  • MUSTARD: I prefer to use Dijon mustard for the sauce but a tangy grainy mustard would work and add more texture too.
  • WALNUT OIL/ OLIVE OIL: The flavor of walnut oil is so delicious with this recipe especially with the toasted walnuts. It has a delicious nutty flavor. If you do not have walnut oil or prefer to go nut free simply use extra virgin olive oil - just as delicious.
  • WALNUTS: I love adding some crunch to this dish via lightly toasted nuts. The walnuts are my favorite for this recipe but I also love sliced or chopped almonds too. If you would like to keep this dish nut free simply leave them out or substitute with toasted pepitas/pumpkin seeds.
  • EXTRA ADD INS: Feel free to give these green beans a little kick by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing. Serve with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese or even some feta cheese.

Lemony Green Beans Ingredients

How To Make Lemony Green Beans Recipe

  1. MAKE DRESSING: Whisk or blend the oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the shallots into the dressing then set aside (you can add them in after when you toss the beans with the dressing but the couple minutes in the tangy dressing mellows out the flavor and texture of them)
  2. COOK GREEN BEANS: Boil or steam green beans until tender crisp or to your liking. Drain and pat dry. Transfer to serving platter. Season with pinch of salt.
  3. ASSEMBLE: Toss green beans with the dressing and shallots, top with toasted chopped walnuts and serve warm.

How To Make Lemony Green Beans

Lemon Green Beans Make Ahead & Storage

  • MAKE AHEAD: This is such a simple quick recipe that I usually never make them ahead. But if you prefer to make them ahead I would prep the green beans and store in the fridge overnight and also make the dressing 1 day ahead and store in the fridge. I suggest first that you parboil the green beans, place in ice water bath then drain them ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container ready to toss in a pan for a few minutes before serving or give them a quick steam or shallow boil to warm them up before dressing them.
  • STORAGE: Store cooled, cooked and dressed green beans (leftovers) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat the beans in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop. You can also enjoy these tasty green beans cold.

Lemony Green Beans

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Recipe

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 7 mins
Total Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

  • 1-1½ pounds green beans, cleaned and trimmed (I like French green beans for this recipe)
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • ⅓ cup walnut oil or olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • ⅓ cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

Directions

Make Dressing

  1. In a mini chopper or blender, blend together lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, garlic and pinch of salt and pepper until emulsified.
  2. Stir in shallots. Set aside while you prepare green beans.

Prepare Green Beans

  1. Boil or steam green beans 5-7 minutes or until fork tender (or until desired tenderness is met). Drain beans and pat dry.
  2. Toss green beans in a large bowl with a pinch of salt.

Assemble

  1. Pour dressing with shallots over green beans and toss well to coat
  2. Top with toasted chopped walnuts
  3. Serve right away

Recipe Notes

  • If you prefer not to blend the dressing feel free to whisk all of the dressing ingredients in a bow or mason jar. Make sure to mince the garlic or grate it.
  • These green beans make a great side to any meat dish - chicken, fish, turkey dinner, steak etc.
  • Toasting walnuts enhances their flavor and creates a crisp texture. Heat a dry skillet (no oil needed) over medium heat. Add the walnuts in a single layer to the hot pan. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring or shaking the pan constantly to prevent burning. Monitor closely for a rich, nutty aroma and slight color change. Cool immediately by transferring the toasted walnuts to a plate to cool evenly then chop.

Lemony Green Beans