Are string beans and green beans the same thing?

Yup! They're one and the same. Green beans used to have tough, fibrous "strings" running down the length of the pod, similar to snap peas. However, modern green bean varieties no longer have these strings, although you may still find them in some heirloom varieties.

How do you make green beans taste good?

My favorite way is the blanch and sauté method. Blanching first gives the green beans that perfect tender-crisp texture and keeps them nice and vibrant. Then you sauté them with lots of flavor - in this case, garlic butter and parmesan. Add your favorite toppings and you've got green beans that are seriously delicious!

How do you store these green beans?

If you're prepping ahead, blanched green beans can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Leftovers of the finished dish can also be refrigerated for a few days. Just reheat gently so you don't lose that tender-crisp texture.

Garlic Butter Parmesan Green Beans

Name: Garlic Butter Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound green beans, trimmed (454 g); 2 tablespoons butter; 4 cloves garlic, minced; pinch of nutmeg; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan; Optional toppings (see notes for garnish ideas)

Description

Need an easy side dish that everyone will love? These garlic parmesan green beans are it! Sautéed green beans tossed in delicious garlic butter and parmesan… what’s not to love? They come together in just 15 minutes and are SO GOOD!

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound green beans, trimmed (454 g)
2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
pinch of nutmeg
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
Optional toppings (see notes for garnish ideas)

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Instructions

Blanch the green beans: Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, just until they’re tender-crisp. Transfer immediately to the ice water bath with tongs or a slotted spoon to stop the cooking process and keep them vibrant green. Once they’ve cooled, drain well and set aside.
Sauté in garlic butter: Melt the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add the green beans and toss everything together for a couple of minutes until the green beans are heated through and evenly coated in garlic butter. Season to taste with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
Toss with parmesan: Take the pan off the heat, sprinkle over the parmesan and give everything a good toss. Add any of the optional garnishes (found in the notes section below) and serve right away.

Notes

Butter: Salted or unsalted butter both work great. You could also swap in ghee if you prefer.
Nutmeg: Totally optional but I really love a little nutmeg with green beans – it just adds that extra something. I prefer whole nutmeg because it’s incredibly fragrant when freshly grated. Just grab a fine grater to grate a touch directly over the green beans. However, you could also use a pinch of ground nutmeg instead.
Garnish Ideas: The garnishes are optional but highly recommended! They add a little extra flavor and texture and make these green beans look extra pretty on the table. Pick one or pick a few, depending on what you’re feeling. Some delicious options include: Parmesan shavings, toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds, chopped pistachios, lemon zest, chili flakes, crispy bacon bits or prosciutto, fresh chopped parsley, crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese, crispy onions, fried shallots or fried garlic chips.
Get a Head Start: You can blanch the green beans ahead of time and store them in the fridge in a container lined with paper towel. When you’re ready to serve, simply sauté them in the garlic butter and toss with parmesan and you’re done in a few minutes! I use this little trick all the time, especially for holiday meals!