Easy Green Beans with Gremolata and Pine Nuts

These easy green beans with gremolata and pine nuts is a simple and irresistible Italian side dish.  In this recipe, green beans are cooked and then tossed with a classic herb condiment–the gremolata–a combination of lemon zest, fresh parsley and garlic.  The addition of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts gives this dish an even greater depth of flavor.  As an added bonus, this dish can be made ahead of time!

This combination of sharp flavors is typically also used in the Italian cuisine with osso bucco, but it is a great condiment for any simple protein such as chicken, lamb, or, fish.  It can also can be enjoyed with other vegetables and can give a bright flavor to many hearty Italian soups.

Ingredients you need to make the Easy Green Beans with Gremolata and Pine Nuts

This is another recipe with very few ingredients where the quality of ingredients is important.  Here is what you are going to need to make this easy side dish recipe:

• Green beans:  look for firm, bright, green ones; not soft, floppy beans with black speckles or bruising on them
• Parsley:  use a lot of fresh flat Italian parsley; dried parsley will not do
• Garlic:  mince it.  Do not use a garlic press for this recipe and definitely do not use jarred garlic paste
• Lemon zest:  this simple ingredient is a must
• Parmesan cheese:  use the real thing, grate it, and serve some extra on the side too
• Toasted pine nuts:  a great addition which provides a textural interest to the dish
• Olive oil:  this is a dish that can greatly benefit by some really good extra virgin olive oil — use it generously

The two-step cooking method for the green beans

1. In the first step of the recipe, we blanch the beans in plenty of salty, boiling water for about 4 and up to 5 minutes (depending on their size), until they turn bright green, but are still crisp.  After that, we drain them quickly and immerse them in a bath of ice-cold water.  This step will stop the cooking process and allow the beans to retain their bright color
2. After that, we drain the beans and toss them in a large skillet with plenty of good olive oil.  Stir and cook for a few more minutes until they are cooked the way you like them

How to make the green beans gremolata ahead of time 

• You can blanch the beans a day ahead, pat them dry and store them in a container in the refrigerator
• The gremolata can also be done one day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator seperatly
• When you are ready to serve them, just warm the beans through in a skillet, toss them with the gremolata, and top with Parmesan and pine nuts

What to serve with the green beans gremolata 

This flavorful side dish is very easy to pair with just about everything.  From chicken to fish and any other protein and starch, it is always a great accompaniment.

You might want to enjoy this with Chicken piccata, or with Chicken marsala – they way we had them recently in a class at the cooking school.  They will also go well with the simple Honey-Dijon Chicken Cutlets or the Greek-style Grilled Chicken with “Smashed” Potatoes.  If you are looking for a fish pairing, this easy Pan-Seared Lemon Cod or Oven-Baked Salmon  would be good choices!  There are also vegetarian options, such as this One Pot Greek Orzo with Feta, Oven-Baked Polenta with Balsamic Cremini Mushrooms, or Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash!  Yum!  So many delicious options!

Another delicious recipe you will want to check out is the roasted asparagus with gremolata. A perfect spring recipe!

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5.0 from 2 reviews

Easy Green Beans with Gremolata and Pine Nuts

 

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Prep time

6 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

16 mins

 

A classic Italian side dish that always wins over even those who don't like vegetables!

Author: Marilena Leavitt

Recipe type: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ¾ - 1 lb. French green beans (haricots verts), trimmed
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1 TBSP. lemon zest, grated
• 2 TBSP. flat-leaf parsley, stems removed, minced
• 4 TBSP. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 4 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
• ½ - ¾ tsp. sea salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 3 TBSP. toasted pine nuts

Instructions

1. Set a medium pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the green beans and blanch them for 3-5 minutes (depending on their size), until tender but still crisp. Drain the beans in a colander and immerse them into a bath of ice water and ice cubes to stop the cooking. This step will help preserve their green color.
2. To make the gremolata, in a small bowl, toss together the garlic, lemon zest and parsley and set aside (if you do not like the flavor of raw garlic, see Step 3). Grate the Parmesan cheese and set aside. Toast the pine nuts in a skillet and set aside.
3. When ready to serve, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan, (large enough to accommodate them) over medium-high heat. Drain the beans from their ice bath and pat them dry. Then, add them to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and lightly sauté, turning frequently, until coated with olive oil and heated through. If you do not like the flavor of raw garlic, add that to the skillet with the green beans before mixing it with the other gremolata ingredients. Otherwise, add the gremolata all at once to the sautéed beans.
4. Turn off the heat and toss with the gremolata. Top with the Parmesan and the pine nuts and serve warm or at room temperature.

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