Recipe Details - OnlineCook

February 19, 2025

This is one of my go-to side dishes for weeknight dinners, holidays, and dinner parties! They are perfectly tender and tossed with garlic, shallots, lemon zest, and toasty pine nuts for a savory, fresh, bright dish. Serve with chicken, beef, pork, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and more!

11 Ingredients

Lemony Green Beans With Pine Nuts & Garlic

Lemony Green Beans With Pine Nuts & Garlic cover

From the Cook

1/6

Lemony Green Beans With Pine Nuts & Garlic

Sunday Table

Ingredients

Servings

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

In a large dry skillet, cook the pine nuts over medium heat until they are toasted and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Spoon the pine nuts into a bowl and set aside. Return the pan to the stove.

Place green beans in the skillet. Add the water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the green beans are slightly tender but still crisp.**

Remove the lid from the pan and stir until the water is evaporated, about 3-4 minutes.** Then, make a well in the center of the pan and add the olive oil and butter until it is melted.

Add the shallots to the olive oil-butter mixture and sauté until the shallots are soft and starting to brown on the edges, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir the green beans with the shallot-garlic mixture.

Remove the pan from the heat (at this point, the green beans should be crisp-tender). Add the red pepper flakes, lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss, taste, and add additional seasonings if desired.

Spoon the green beans onto a serving dish and sprinkle with the toasted pine nuts.*** Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Smart Nutrition

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Pine Nut Perfection 🥜
Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, constantly stirring to prevent burning and enhance their nutty flavor. Remove from heat immediately when they turn golden brown and fragrant.
Green Bean Blanching Technique 💦
Blanch green beans in heavily salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then immediately shock in ice water to preserve their vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture.
Garlic Timing Magic 🧄
Add minced garlic in the last 30 seconds of cooking to prevent burning and maintain its sweet, aromatic flavor without becoming bitter or acrid.
Lemon Zest Maximization 🍋
Use a microplane grater to create fine, delicate lemon zest that distributes more evenly and releases maximum citrusy oils throughout the dish.
Seasoning Layer Technique 🧂
Season green beans in stages - salt the blanching water, then add a pinch of kosher salt when sautéing, and finish with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt for depth of flavor.