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Home » Recipes » Recipes

Green Beans with
Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Published: Nov 16, 2017 · Modified: Nov 19, 2022 by Marisa Moore·

949 shares
Green Beans Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Swap this healthy green bean recipe for traditional green bean casserole on your Thanksgiving table this year. It’s brimming with healthy fats, fiber, and flavor!

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week. Where does the time go? I say this every year but I really do wonder where it all goes. The past few weeks, some of my time has gone to Chicago and I’ve spent plenty of time in the kitchen making stuff. Though I’m just getting to post it, I made this healthy green bean recipe a few weeks ago as part of a Thanksgiving Sides demo.

Caramelized Green Beans made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The event was last night and went off without a hitch. I shared this recipe along with whipped sweet potatoes with zero refined sugar, and fresh cranberry sauce made in the pressure cooker onsite.

The green beans were the surprise standout. Since people love a green bean casserole on Thanksgiving, I knew that putting something without cream and battered and fried onions on the table was a gamble. But it worked.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Green Beans with Caramelized Onion & Almonds! A healthy option for  your Thanksgiving table!” quote=”Green Beans with Caramelized Onion & Almonds! #healthyeating #Thanksgiving table this year.”]

Make these healthy green beans

To make this recipe, I started by caramelizing sweet onions. Though easier than it looks, it takes a bit of time. That’s the most tedious part of the recipe but I suggest making a big batch and using them for lots of other things like toppings on pizza or roasted vegetables or tossed into omelets. For a more in-depth look at this process check out my post on How to Caramelize Onions.

I blanched fresh green beans for 4-5 minutes and immediately tossed them in an ice bath to stop the cooking. You can do both of these steps a day before the big day. Once the onions are caramelized and the green beans are blanched, you simply toss them together with more extra virgin olive oil, toasted almonds, and salt and pepper.

And you have a healthy, delicious side that’s perfect for Thanksgiving or any day of the year!

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is blanching? Blanching is a cooking term meaning you let fresh vegetables or fruit cook briefly in boiling water. It’s like partially cooking the vegetables and in this case, blanching helps you keep the brilliant green color and crunch of the green beans! Here’s a good tutorial on how to blanch vegetables.

Can I use frozen green beans? Yes. Skip blanching if you’re using frozen green beans. You can add them directly to the pan. 

Do I have to caramelize the onions? No. But the dish won’t be the same. The caramelization process brings out the natural sweetness from the onions. Without that process, the dish will still be good but just different.

Can I swap in other nuts? Yes. Chopped walnuts or pecans would be delicious in this green bean recipe. You can also swap in roasted sunflower seeds if you or your family have a tree nut allergy. 

Be sure to pin this recipe for later!

Green Beans in skillet for Pinterest

 

Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Green Beans Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Toasted Almonds are a healthy vegan side dish for a weeknight dinner or Thanksgiving. These are made with caramelized onions and crunchy almonds for lots of flavor and crunch
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: green beans
Servings: 6
Calories: 127kcal
Author: Marisa Moore

Ingredients

  • 2 cups thinly sliced onions (about 1 large)
  • 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive oil, divided
  • ¼ cup vegetable broth
  • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1 pound fresh green beans (about 4 cups trimmed)
  • 1 pot boiling water for blanching
  • kosher salt and coarse black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Caramelize the onions: Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onion. Stirring occasionally, set heat to medium-low and allow the onions to cook slowly about 20-25 minutes until browned but not burned. Once done, add the vegetable broth to deglaze the pan. Remove the caramelized onions from the pan and reserve.
  • While onions are cooking, blanch the green beans in the boiling water - about 5 minutes. Remove the green beans from the boiling water and store in the refrigerator or an ice water bath to stop the cooking.
  • Put it all together: Add 1 T olive oil to the warm skillet. Add the blanched green beans, onions and almonds back to the skillet. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I use frozen green beans? Yes. Skip blanching if you're using frozen green beans. You can add them directly to the pan. 
Do I have to caramelize the onions? No. But the dish won't be the same. The caramelization process brings out the natural sweetness from the onions. Without that process, the dish will still be good but just different.
Can I swap in other nuts? Yes. Chopped walnuts or pecans would be delicious in this green bean recipe. You can also swap in roasted sunflower seeds if you or your family have a tree nut allergy. 

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal
 
949 shares

Filed Under: Blog, Recipes, Sides

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    Recipe Rating




  1. RITA WELLER

    November 17, 2019 at 10:31 pm

    5 stars
    I want more low calorie and low sugar Recipes, PLEASE!!!

    Reply
  2. Gail E Kienle

    July 23, 2023 at 9:43 am

    5 stars
    There were delicious. I love anything with carmelized onions. Adding the allmonds was just another level of goodness.

    Reply

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MARISA MOORE

Hi! I'm Marisa, a registered dietitian nutritionist living in Atlanta, GA. I use this blog to share (mostly) vegetarian recipes, credible nutrition information and a peek into my Southern roots and travels!

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Marisa Moore, MBA.RDN.LD. | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Food and Nutrition Consultant | Speaker | Writer | Spokesperson

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