I feel like green beans are a staple at the thanksgiving table. Whatever way you serve them… they are a must! I’m not the biggest fan of green bean casseroles, so I opted for a more fresh and lighter green bean dish for this thanksgiving. These green beans are blanched to make them crisp yet tender. They are then tossed with garlic butter, toasted almonds and crispy bacon. Super fast, easy and loaded with crunch and texture. It’s funny how sometimes the simplest dishes are some of the best! This is completely true in this case. Since most of the ingredients will already be in your kitchen, it’s so cheap to throw together!

It’s no secret that most of thanksgiving food is very heavy and decadent, so it’s nice to have something a little more bright and fresh on the side! I always find it comforting to add in a dish that isn’t your typical thanksgiving casserole. This is the perfect thing. The blanched green beans pop in your mouth and create that “fresh” flavor I’m talking about.

These green beans aren’t just for thanksgiving, serve them with dinner anytime! You could also switch up the protein and nuts involved. Try using pancetta and pine nuts for a different flavor.

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GREEN BEANS WITH GARLIC BUTTER, BACON BITS & TOASTED ALMONDS

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Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Total time: 15-18 minutes

Serves: 8-10

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INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs green beans, ends trimmed

3 large cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsp salted butter

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

4 strips thick cut bacon, cut in one inch pieces and cooked till crispy

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DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add in green beans. Cook for about 3 minutes till tender but still crunchy. Remove green beans from pot and transfer to a bowl of ice water. (this will stop the cooking process and keep the beans a bright green in color)

In a large pan, heat butter and garlic to medium heat and sauté for about 1 minute. Be sure not to burn the garlic.

Drain the green beans from the ice water and pat dry.

Add in green beans, salt, pepper and almonds to the butter and garlic. Toss together for 1 minute over medium heat. You don’t want to cook the green beans, you simply want to warm them and incorporate them together with the other ingredients.

Remove from pan and serve on a platter or in a bowl. Top with crispy bacon bits and serve warm.

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