Hello there!

Today’s recipe is a quick and easy side dish that comes together in 15 minutes or less. It’s a tasty recipe for: Garlic Ginger Green Beans!

There’s only eight ingredients (including salt, pepper, and vegetable oil!). The main ingredient in this recipe is (of course) French green beans (aka haricot vert).

What’s the difference between French Green beans and “regular” green beans (most American varieties)?

French green beans are typically thinner, longer, sweeter, and more tender than regular green beans.

They also cook up faster since they are thinner too. You can also use regular green beans in this recipe, just make sure you boil them for a few additional minutes to get them to your desired texture.

How to choose green beans?

Seek out fresh looking, vibrant green (not yellow or brown) coloured beans with skin that is smooth and firm.

Avoid ones that are too thick or large in size as they can be tough and stringy. The pod should also make a snapping sound when bent in half.

How do you make this green bean recipe?

Blanched French green beans in an ice bath.

Minced garlic and ginger. I like lots of it.

The French green beans are cooked until tender-crisp and then placed in an ice bath (a large bowl full of cold water and ice).

This process is called shocking, which rapidly cools down the vegetable and stops the cooking process. It also helps the green beans retain their texture and lovely deep green colour as well.

As the green beans sit in the ice bath, heat up a large skillet (I used a deep sided cast-iron skillet) and then add the garlic and ginger.

Sauté them in the hot oil for one to two minutes, allowing it to get aromatic and slightly browned before adding the drained green beans to the skillet.

Then add in the soy sauce, sliced almonds, salt and pepper into the skillet and toss to combine, until the green beans are heated through.

These few ingredients heighten this simple dish by adding aromatic notes of spicy, pungent, and salty flavours to the natural vegetal sweetness of the green beans. The sliced almonds give this side dish a mild nutty flavour and additional crunch.

In all, this green bean side dish:

• Is simple and flavourful
• Fresh and healthy
• Is quick and easy to make
• Uses few ingredients
• Is made with simple ingredients
• Is vegan too. (Also gluten-free if you make sure you get a gluten-free soy sauce).

Interested in more vegetable-based side dish recipes?

• Mustard Dill Potato Salad
• Roasted Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Balsamic Root Vegetables with Basil Almond Pesto
• Crispy Garlic Smashed Baby Potatoes

I hope you try this recipe! If you do, please leave me a rating and comment down below or tag me on any of my social media. I’m @yay_for_food on Instagram. I’d love a picture!

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