French Green Beans

Ingredients

• 17 oz Fresh Green Beans (small, firm, thin)
• 4 cups Boiling Water
• 2 small Shallot (peeled, chopped (or onion))
• 3 Garlic Cloves (peeled, crushed)
• 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 2 oz Unsalted Butter (or Extra virgin olive oil)
• 2 oz Sliced Almonds
• 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

1. 1

   In a large Dutch oven, bring the water to a boil.

2. 2

   Add the green beans and cover with a lid.

3. 3

   Blanch the green beans cooking them for 3 to 5 minutes. Check the texture with a fork, the green beans must stay firm but tender.

4. 4

   Drain and rinse under cold water, this will keep the green color of the green beans!

5. 5

   Just before serving, warm the butter in a skillet, add the shallots, garlic and saute for about 1 minute or until golden and fragrant.

6. 6

   Add the sliced almonds and roast/saute them for 1 minute until slightly brown. Stir often to prevent them from burning.

7. 7

   Add the green beans and stir with the cooked shallots, garlic, and almonds to blend the flavors. Add salt and pepper, and saute briefly for no more than 2-3 minutes.

8. 8

   Deglaze with lemon juice - it means you will use the lemon juice to create a tasty sauce with the oil that sticks to the skillet.

9. 9

   Serve immediately as a side dish for any meat or fish. Top up with extra chopped fresh basil.