Tender green beans sautéed with toasted almonds and butter make a healthy, vegetarian, family-friendly holiday side. This elegant French-American classic adds fresh, crunchy goodness to any dinner.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and blanch for 3-4 minutes until just tender but still crisp. Drain and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Drain thoroughly.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant (about 2-3 minutes). Remove almonds from the pan and set aside.
In the same skillet, add olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and foamy, add the blanched green beans.
Sauté green beans for 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally, until heated through and lightly coated. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
Add toasted almonds and lemon juice to the skillet. Toss everything together for 1 more minute and serve immediately for best texture.