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Green Beans · Garlic Butter

Garlic Butter Green Beans

A quick boil keeps green beans bright and snappy, then they get tossed in butter with gently golden garlic. A side that goes with nearly any dinner.

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Prep
10 min
Cook
12 min
Total
25 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 lb green beans, stem ends trimmed
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt, for the cooking water
  • ice, for an ice bath
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Steps

  1. Fill a large pot about two-thirds full of water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. While the water heats, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water and set it next to the stove.
  3. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until they turn bright green and are just tender with a little snap left.
  4. Drain the beans in a colander, then tip them straight into the ice water to stop the cooking.
  5. Once the beans are cold, drain them again and pat them dry with a clean towel. Dry beans won't spatter in the hot butter.
  6. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  7. Add the garlic and stir until it smells fragrant and just turns pale gold. Don't let it go dark brown or it will taste bitter.
  8. Add the beans, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper, and toss until the beans are hot and coated in garlic butter.
  9. Take the pan off the heat, add the lemon juice if you like, taste for salt and serve.

Tip: Line up a handful of beans with the stem ends even and trim them all with one cut.

Tip: Thin French-style beans (haricots verts) need only 2 minutes in the boiling water.

Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a small knob of butter.

Make ahead: Boil, chill and dry the beans up to 2 days ahead. Keep them in the fridge and do the garlic butter step right before serving.

Estimated nutrition per serving: 90 calories · protein 2 g · carbohydrates 9 g · fiber 3 g · sugars 4 g · fat 6 g (saturated 3.5 g) · sodium 115 mg. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 5 of 5 ingredients.