Garlic Steamed Green Beans

Name: Garlic Steamed Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 500 g green beans (trimmed, ends snapped off); 2 tbsp olive oil; 4 pcs garlic (cloves, thinly sliced); 1 pinch salt; 1 pinch black pepper; 1 tsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed); 2 cup water (for steaming)

RATING

4.5/5(115)

TASTE SCORE

8/10

Crisp-tender green beans steamed to perfection, then tossed in aromatic garlic-infused olive oil. This simple side dish comes together in under 15 minutes with just a handful of pantry staples, delivering bright, clean flavor that pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted chicken, or fish.

PREP

COOK

SERVES

1 CUP

106 cal

SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

For 4 servings

500 ggreen beans · trimmed, ends snapped off2 tbspolive oil4 pcsgarlic · cloves, thinly sliced1 pinchsalt1 pinchblack pepper1 tsplemon juice · freshly squeezed2 cupwater · for steaming

NUTRITION · PER SERVING

106

CALORIES · 1 CUP

Protein2g · 8%

Carbs10g · 38%

Fat7g · 59%

Fiber3g

Sugar3g

Saturated fat1g

Cholesterol0mg

Sodium46mg

Potassium276mg

Phosphorus56mg

How we calculate →

METHOD · 5 STEPS

prep
Trim the green beans.
Rinse the green beans under cold water. Snap or cut off the stem ends. Leave them whole or cut in half if they are very long.
steam · ~5 min
Steam the green beans until crisp-tender.
1.Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a pot fitted with a steamer basket.
2.Add the trimmed green beans to the steamer basket and cover tightly.
3.Steam for 4 to 5 minutes, until bright green and just tender with a slight crunch.
TIPDon't overcook — the beans should still have a fresh snap. They will continue to cook slightly from residual heat after draining.
saute · ~2 min
Sauté the garlic in olive oil.
1.While the beans steam, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat.
2.Add the sliced garlic and cook gently, stirring frequently, until fragrant and just golden at the edges (1 to 2 minutes).
TIPKeep the heat low — garlic burns quickly and turns bitter. You want it golden, not brown.
mix
Toss the beans in the garlic oil.
Drain the steamed green beans and add them directly to the skillet with the garlic oil. Toss well to coat every bean. Season with salt and black pepper.
garnish
Finish with lemon juice and serve.
Remove from heat. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the beans and give them one last toss. Transfer to a serving platter.
TIPThe lemon juice brightens the dish — don't skip it. It balances the richness of the olive oil.

PRO TIPS

What to keep in mind.

6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.

1
Slice garlic uniformly thin so it cooks at the same rate.
2
Steam beans in a single layer for even cooking.
3
Shock steamed beans in ice water to stop cooking immediately.
4
Use a steamer basket with a tight-fitting lid to trap steam.
5
Pat beans dry after draining to avoid diluting the garlic oil.
6
Slice garlic just before sautéing to preserve its fragrance.

RECIPE VARIATIONS

Adapt it for your goals.

low oil

Low-oil

Replace the 2 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp, using a nonstick skillet to sauté the garlic. This reduces fat while keeping the garlic flavor intact.

high protein

High-protein

Add 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds when tossing the beans for a nutty crunch and extra protein.

jain

Jain

Omit the garlic entirely and substitute with 1/2 tsp asafoetida (hing) added to the hot oil, plus a pinch of turmeric. This keeps the dish root-free and suitable for Jain dietary practices.

vegan