Zesty Garlic Green Beans: Simple Parmesan & Olive Oil Recipe

Sizzling and vibrant green beans with olive oil and parmesan dance with irresistible flavor on your plate.

This quick side dish brings restaurant-quality green beans right to your kitchen table.

Crisp green beans get a delightful boost of savory parmesan and rich olive oil.

garlic infuses each tender bite with an aromatic punch that makes these beans impossible to resist.

The combination of simple ingredients creates a surprisingly elegant vegetable side that complements almost any main course.

Fresh, green, and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired seasonings, these beans turn an ordinary vegetable into a culinary star.

You’ll want to make this incredibly easy recipe again and again.

How to Make Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Green Bean Preparation

Fresh green beans transform into a delightful side dish that bursts with flavor. Select crisp, vibrant beans from your local market or garden, ensuring they’re free from blemishes and have a bright green color.

• Water Bath

Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil, creating a warm pool for the beans to soften slightly. Dunk the beans into the bubbling water, allowing them to swim for a few moments until they become tender yet maintain a delightful crunch.

• Garlic Magic

In a sizzling skillet, pour a stream of golden olive oil and sprinkle in fragrant garlic pieces. Watch as the kitchen fills with an irresistible aroma that promises a delectable outcome. Slide the blanched beans into the pan, letting them dance and absorb the garlicky essence.

• Cheesy Finale

Remove the skillet from heat and shower the beans with a zesty splash of lemon juice. Drift generous snowflakes of Parmesan cheese over the top, creating a creamy blanket that clings to each bean. Give a gentle toss to ensure every morsel is coated with tangy, cheesy goodness.

Flavor Boosts for Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Green Bean Blanching Brilliance: Preserve the vibrant green color and crisp texture by immediately transferring beans to an ice bath after boiling, which stops the cooking process and locks in nutrients.
• Garlic Intensity Control: Adjust the garlic's punch by using either fresh minced garlic for a sharp bite or roasted garlic for a mellow, sweet undertone that adds depth to the dish.
• Cheese Swap Adventure: Experiment with different hard cheeses like pecorino romano, aged asiago, or sharp cheddar to create unique flavor profiles that complement the green beans' natural earthiness.
• Herb Elevation Hack: Sprinkle fresh chopped herbs like basil, thyme, or parsley just before serving to introduce a bright, fresh layer of complexity and visual appeal to the simple side dish.
• Crunch Factor Boost: Enhance texture by toasting sliced almonds, pine nuts, or breadcrumbs in the skillet before adding green beans, creating a delightful crispy element that adds excitement to every bite.

Serving Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Festive Family Dinner Companion: Perfectly complements roasted chicken or grilled salmon, adding a vibrant green side that brings fresh flavor to the main course.
• Elegant Entertaining Accent: Serve in a beautiful white ceramic dish garnished with extra Parmesan shavings and fresh parsley for an impressive appetizer at dinner parties or holiday gatherings.
• Meal Prep Magic: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, making it an excellent make-ahead side dish that maintains its crisp texture and garlic-infused taste when gently reheated.
• Nutritious Lunch Booster: Pack these green beans in a lunch container with grilled chicken or quinoa for a protein-packed, nutritious midday meal that keeps you energized and satisfied.

Storage Tips for Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Prepare a large batch of green beans during weekend meal prep to quickly reheat throughout the week. These garlic-infused beans work perfectly as a make-ahead side dish that maintains its delicious flavor and crisp texture.
• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Store cooled green beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the beans separate from other ingredients to maintain their crisp texture and prevent soggy outcomes.
• Quick Reheating Technique: Revive leftover green beans by gently warming them in a skillet with a small splash of olive oil. This method helps restore their original sizzle and prevents them from becoming mushy or losing their vibrant green color.
• Meal Pairing Power: Incorporate these garlic Parmesan green beans as a versatile side dish alongside roasted chicken, grilled fish, or as a tasty addition to your lunch meal prep. Their bold flavor complements multiple main course options and adds nutritional variety to your weekly menu.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients Used in Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Green Beans: Crisp, vibrant vegetables that bring a delightful crunch and garden-fresh flavor to the dish, selecting young and tender beans without blemishes or yellowing.
• Garlic: Aromatic powerhouse that infuses intense, pungent notes and provides a robust flavor foundation, choosing firm cloves with tight, unbroken skin.

• Salt: Essential mineral that amplifies and balances the overall taste profile, selecting fine-grain kosher or sea salt for even distribution.
• Lemon Juice: Bright, zesty liquid that adds a refreshing citrus punch and helps cut through the richness, using freshly squeezed juice for maximum tanginess.

• Olive Oil: Smooth, fruity liquid that creates a silky texture and brings Mediterranean warmth, choosing extra virgin for superior taste and quality.
• Parmesan Cheese: Nutty, aged cheese that provides a sharp, salty finish and luxurious depth, selecting freshly grated for maximum flavor and meltability.

What You’ll Need for Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan

• Large pot: Perfect for boiling green beans evenly and quickly.
• Large skillet: Essential for sautéing garlic and green beans with great heat distribution.
• Colander: Helps drain green beans thoroughly after boiling.
• Cheese grater: Needed to grate fresh Parmesan for topping.
• Cutting board: Used for prepping and chopping garlic.
• Sharp knife: Required for mincing garlic finely.
• Measuring spoons: Helps measure salt and olive oil accurately.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients in the skillet.

Crispy Garlic Green Beans

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• Total Time: 8 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Delicious garlic green beans with olive oil and parmesan offer a simple yet elegant side dish from Mediterranean cuisine. Crisp green beans sautéed in fragrant garlic and finished with nutty parmesan create a meal you’ll savor with pleasure.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (50 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb (454 grams) green beans, fresh, rinsed, ends trimmed
• 2 tbsps (30 mL) olive oil
• ½ tsp (2.5 grams) salt
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice, freshly squeezed

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Instructions

1. Blanching: Fill a large pot with salted water, bringing it to a rolling boil. Immerse green beans and cook until they achieve a vivid, crisp-tender consistency, roughly 5 minutes. Drain completely, shaking off excess liquid.
2. Infusing Flavor: Heat olive oil in a capacious skillet over medium flame. Introduce minced garlic, sautéing briefly to release its aromatic essence without burning. Swiftly fold in the blanched green beans, ensuring they’re evenly coated and heated through.
3. Finishing Touch: Remove skillet from heat. Splash freshly squeezed lemon juice over the beans, creating a bright, tangy profile. Generously dust with grated Parmesan, gently tossing until each bean is delicately glazed. Adjust seasoning with salt to enhance the dish’s overall depth and complexity.

Notes

• Blanch Beans Perfectly: Boil green beans precisely 5 minutes to maintain crisp texture and vibrant green color, ensuring they’re tender yet not mushy.
• Garlic Sautéing Technique: Toast garlic gently over moderate heat to release aromatic flavors without burning, which can create bitter undertones.
• Cheese Coating Strategy: Fold Parmesan cheese immediately after removing from heat to prevent cheese from becoming greasy or clumpy.
• Flavor Balancing Tip: Use fresh lemon juice to brighten the dish, cutting through the richness of olive oil and cheese while enhancing overall taste profile.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 170 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg