Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon
These Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon are crisp-tender, flavorful, and ready in just 10 minutes. Fresh garlic and lemon turn simple green beans into an easy side dish for weeknights or holidays.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 68kcal
Equipment
- 1 medium saucepan with a steamer basket
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trim if needed
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- juice from 1/2 a lemon *about 2 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the green beans and trim the stem ends if needed.
- Add about 1 cup of water to a medium saucepan and place a steamer basket inside. Add the green beans, cover, and steam over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, or until they're bright green and crisp-tender.
- Carefully remove the steamer basket and drain the water. Return the pan to the stove over low to medium heat. Add the avocado oil and minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Don't allow it to brown or burn.
- Add the steamed green beans and sauté for another minute, tossing frequently so they're evenly coated in the garlic oil.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the green beans, season generously with salt and black pepper, toss, and serve immediately.
Notes
Storage:
These sautéed green beans are best served immediately while they're warm and crisp-tender. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Keep in mind that the beans will soften as they sit, so I prefer enjoying them freshly cooked.
To reheat, warm them briefly in a skillet rather than cooking them for too long, which can make them softer.
Tips and Modifications:
Don't overcook the beans. Steam them only until crisp-tender since they'll cook for another minute in the pan.
Watch the garlic closely. Garlic can go from fragrant to burned quickly. Keep the heat low to medium and stir constantly.
Add lemon off the heat. I squeeze the lemon over the beans after removing the pan from the stove to preserve its bright, fresh flavor.
Season at the end. Taste after adding the lemon, then adjust the salt and pepper until the flavors pop.
Use fresh beans when possible. Firm, fresh green beans will give you the best crisp-tender texture.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 783IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg