Green Bean Almondine with Garlic and Chilli Flakes
Green Bean Almondine with Garlic and Chilli Flakes
Padma Gupta
Note from Mamta; I had this dish as part of a Thanksgiving dinner at my sister in-laws house in Miami this year (2011). Cooking beans with garlic and almonds lifts them from an everyday, common dish to a party dish. They are simple to make and very delicious.
Serves 4-5
Ingredients
1 packet or 250 gm. French green beans
2 tbsp. butter
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/2 cup blanched and sliced almonds
1/2 tsp. chilli flakes, adjust to taste
Salt to taste
Instructions
Top and tail the beans. Leave them whole. If too long, you can cut in half.
Blanch the bean for a couple of minutes; boil water in a large pan. Add bean and boil for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander. Run cold water over them and immediately dunk into a bowl of ice cold water. This stops further cooking and keeps beans crisp, al dente. Drain and keep aside.
Melt half the butter in a pan. Fry almonds until lightly browned, remove and keep aside.
Melt remaining butter, add garlic and stir fry for about 1 minute.
Add green beans, salt to taste and chilli pepper flakes. Stir fry on medium heat for just about 2-3 minutes otherwise it will get overcooked.
Add crushed almonds.
Lift out, leaving the excessive butter behind, into a bowl and serve hot.
