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Green Bean Salad

October 5, 2023

Looking for a delicious side dish or Thanksgiving recipe that packs in the flavor? This green bean salad is simple and comes together quickly but is always a fan favorite. Highlight the best of fresh green beans in this fantastic and easy recipe.

green bean salad topped with parmesan and toasted almonds on a silver platter.

Canadian Thanksgiving is this Monday and I’m feeling a little nostalgic “down” here in America (I technically live North of where I grew up but you get it!). I wanted to share a Thanksgiving recipe to celebrate but also just a delicious green bean salad that can be enjoyed any day of the week.

It is a normal day for us on Monday with work and school and the usual grind but this green bean salad recipe is sure to make it a little more delicious

Ingredients in Green Bean Salad

  • Fresh green beans – I would recommend only using fresh green beans for this recipe and skipping the canned green beans that tend to be a bit too mushy for this green bean salad.
  • Slivered almonds – you could also use a different nut like pecans, walnuts or even pine nuts
  • Parmesan cheese – my preference for this recipe but any cheese will work including feta cheese or even goat cheese.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – the base of the salad dressing
  • Balsamic vinegar – you could also use a different vinegar like red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar if that’s all you have.
  • Lemon juice – I like using fresh juice directly from the lemon
  • Dijon mustard – I personally prefer the flavor of Dijon but use whatever mustard you have.
  • Garlic clove – freshly minced garlic builds out the dressing.
  • Salt + Black Pepper – feel free to adjust to accommodate sodium levels.

*If you’d like you could always do a variation on this recipe by adding a protein on top like chicken or hard-boiled eggs.

How to Cook Green Beans

We’re aiming for crisp-tender green beans in this green bean salad recipe. Here’s how to blanch them:

1) Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the green beans. Blanch for 2 minutes and then drain.

2) Immediately place green beans in a large bowl of ice water to shock them. This stops the cooking process and ensures your green beans remain crisp-tender.

How to Make Green Bean Salad

STEP 1: COOK GREEN BEANS

As directed above.

STEP 2: TOAST ALMONDS

In a shallow pan add almonds and toast over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Watch carefully to ensure they don’t burn.

toasted slivered almonds in a shallow pan.

STEP 3: MAKE DRESSING

In a bowl whisk together olive oil, balsamic, lemon, Dijon mustard and garlic clove or shake in a mason jar.

dressing for green bean salad in a small mason jar.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE SALAD

Add your green beans, toasted almond and parmesan cheese to a large plate or bowl and toss with desired amount of dressing. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

green bean salad on a silver plate topped with parmesan and almonds.

Storage Instructions

Store your leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I eat cold directly from the fridge.

More Green Bean Recipes

More Salad Recipes

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Green Bean Salad

Looking for a delicious side dish or Thanksgiving recipe that packs in the flavor? This green bean salad is simple and comes together quickly but is always a fan favorite. Highlight the best of fresh green beans in this fantastic and easy recipe.

  • Author: Davida Lederle
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Cook
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 lbs trimmed green beans
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup shaved or grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • juice, 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • Salt + pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the green beans. Blanch for 2 minutes and then strain. Immediately place green beans in a large bowl filled with ice water to shock them.
  2. In a shallow pan add almonds and toast over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Watch carefully to ensure they don’t burn.
  3. Add your green beans, toasted almond and parmesan cheese to a large plate or bowl and set aside.
  4. In a bowl or mason jar combine olive oil, balsamic, lemon, Dijon mustard and garlic clove and mix well.
  5. Add desired amount of dressing onto your green bean salad and top with salt and pepper, to taste.
  6. Serve cold. See storage instructions above.

Keywords: green bean salad

overhead image of green bean salad on a platter.

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