Green Beans with Lemon Zest

Green Beans with Lemon Zest

This is a great twist on just plain green beans. The brightness of the lemon zest is delicious. Several variations are included in the recipe as well as the pro tip of blanching the beans for quicker cooking time.

Green Beans with Lemon Zest

Serves 4
Serving Size: ¾ cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes

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This is a great twist on just plain green beans. The brightness of the lemon zest is delicious. Several variations are included in the recipe as well as the pro tip of blanching the beans for quicker cooking time.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon salt (additional to taste)
  • 1 pound fresh green beans with the vine end removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. Bring 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil.
  2. Boil (blanch) the green beans for 5 minutes or until just a little soft, don’t overcook.
  3. Drain the green beans well. If doing this in advance, shock in ice water.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or stir fry pan.
  5. Add the green beans and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  6. Add the lemon zest and stir well.
  7. Adjust the salt to taste.

NOTE: You can blanch the green beans ahead of time — just shock in ice water and refrigerate. You can also use frozen green beans. Thaw and start at step #4.

Other variations:

  1. Omit the lemon zest and add toasted slivered almonds.
  2. Omit the lemon zest and add 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce such as sambal or sriracha.

Nutrition Information per Serving

(Based on green beans with lemon zest and 1 teaspoon salt)

  • Serving Size: ¾ cup
  • Vegetables: ¾ cup
  • Fruits: 0 cups
  • Calories: 55 calories
  • Carbohydrates: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Protein: 2 grams
  • Fat: 4 grams
  • Sodium: 486 mg

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Green Beans with Lemon Zest

Green Beans with Lemon Zest

Med Instead of Med logo

This is a great twist on just plain green beans. The brightness of the lemon zest is delicious. Several variations are included in the recipe as well as the pro tip of blanching the beans for quicker cooking time.

Green Beans with Lemon Zest

Nutrition Information per Serving

(Based on green beans with lemon zest and 1 teaspoon salt)

  • Serving Size: ¾ cup
  • Vegetables: ¾ cup
  • Fruits: 0 cups
  • Calories: 55 calories
  • Carbohydrates: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Protein: 2 grams
  • Fat: 4 grams
  • Sodium: 486 mg

Serves 4
Serving Size: ¾ cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon salt (additional to taste)
  • 1 pound fresh green beans with the vine end removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. Bring 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil.
  2. Boil (blanch) the green beans for 5 minutes or until just a little soft, don’t overcook.
  3. Drain the green beans well. If doing this in advance, shock in ice water.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or stir fry pan.
  5. Add the green beans and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  6. Add the lemon zest and stir well.
  7. Adjust the salt to taste.

NOTE: You can blanch the green beans ahead of time — just shock in ice water and refrigerate. You can also use frozen green beans. Thaw and start at step #4.

Other variations:

  1. Omit the lemon zest and add toasted slivered almonds.
  2. Omit the lemon zest and add 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce such as sambal or sriracha.

4 thoughts on “Green Beans with Lemon Zest

  1. I made mine similar to Rice a Roni; I fried the rice and pasta in sesame oil w/ fresh garlic, onion boiled those in Knorr’s Pollo chicken broth. I used the lemon zest and some red pepper flakes at the end -My family LOVED IT. Great recipe!

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