When it comes to side dishes, I like to keep my recipes quick and easy with maximum flavor! We mostly lean towards bowl food types of dishes for an ‘all in one’ approach. But sometimes it’s nice to make a side dish or two to go with a simple entrée.
With loads of green beans at the Farmer’s Markets right now, I knew I had to do something with them soon. I also happened to have way too much dill in the fridge, and so a new recipe was born.
When green beans aren’t in season, you can always use frozen green beans. They do tend to cook more quickly than fresh because they’ve been blanched before freezing. So just be sure and start checking them for doneness a little sooner.
The lemon dill vinaigrette is a great flavor pairing with green beans, but other herbs like basil are equally as good. Really, this recipe is just a good starting point from which to experiment!
If you’re using fresh green beans, you’ll want to trim off the stem ends first.
I like to make the dressing and have the rest of my meal prepped before cooking the green beans. They only take a few minutes, so it’s best to have everything else ready to go.
While I’m a big fan of making things ahead, I would recommend making this dressing fresh or refrigerating it for just a few hours. Something about lemon and garlic can taste a bit weird over time as they sit together. Luckily its’ super easy to make, so there’s not need to make it ahead!
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Green Beans with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Super fast side dish with lots of flavor, perfect for pairing with a simple main dish!
Ingredients
12 ounces green beans, ends trimmed, about 3 cups
Lemon Dill Vinaigrette:
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/2 Teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1/4 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil, the best quality extra virgin you have on hand
Instructions
Add all the ingredients for the lemon dill dressing to a 1 cup mason jar, secure the lid and shake the dressing together. Or you can whisk them together in a bowl. The dressing separates as it sits, so shake or stir it back together just before you toss it with the green beans.
Place the trimmed green beans in a large skillet, (12″) along with 1/4 cup water. Place a lid on the skillet and turn the heat on to high until it comes to a boil. Then lower the heat to maintain a simmer, and steam the green beans just until barely tender and bright green, 6-8 minutes for fresh. Be sure to keep an eye on the level of water in the pan, if it looks like it’s running dry, add a few tablespoons more water to finish cooking. If you’re using frozen green beans, start checking sooner as they come already partially cooked.
Drain the green beans and toss them with the dressing.
Serve immediately!
Notes
To make these more picnic style served at room temperature, rinse the green beans under cold water after they’re done cooking until they’re barely warm. Then toss them with the dressing and serve within an hour. Or refrigerate for up to 4 hours and bring them back to room temperature before serving.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Steaming
I’ve been buying a lot of green beans from farmer’s markets lately too. This recipe looks like the perfect way to used them up!
They’ve been exceptional this year!
Lemon and dill are so perfect with green beans! I think that’s the best flavor combo for them. Your version is lovely and looks so refreshing!
Thanks so much!
Green beans are a favorite in our house, but I don’t think I’ve ever cooked any this beautiful. Stunning and so much flavor!
Thanks so much!