Haricot verts, a.k.a French green beans, are a fine, crunchy accompaniment to many dishes. I proudly serve them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. I love them with a slight crunch, a vibrant green appearance, and a buttery, sweet shallot flavor. Slivered almonds add an extra crunch and nuttiness, elevating the dish’s overall appeal. You need an effective method to achieve such perfection, which I demonstrate in this quick and easy Haricot Vert recipe post.

Why You Should Try The Recipe

This buttered Haricot verts and shallots recipe is the ultimate fancy side dish for family or romantic dinner meals. Other reasons why you will love it are:

• Easy yet tasty and sophisticated.
• Healthy and filling.
• Tastes better than traditional green beans.
• Ready in 20 minutes.
• Pairs well with various meals.

What You Need

Haricot Verts (French Green Beans): Haricot verts (arr-ee-co vair) are different from traditional green beans. You will likely eat them at high-end restaurants because they look fancier than regular green beans. They have a slightly longer, skinnier appearance than regular green beans and are more tender and flavorful. Many grocery stores stock them; just ensure you read the label ‘haricot verts’ or ‘French green beans.’

Shopping for Haricot Verts

Some crucial things to consider when buying haricot verts include:

• Firmness: You cannot make crispy sauteed haricot verts with wilted produce. Choose firm and fresh green beans that snap in half if bent.
• Freshness: This haricot verts recipe requires beans with youth on their side. Ensure the beans don’t have signs of aging, such as brown spots, tears, and blemishes. You will only achieve a vibrant green appearance with fresh, youthful beans.
• Uniform shape and size: It is easier to achieve crispy results with beans similar in size and shape as they cook uniformly.

Butter: We need the rich creaminess of butter on the haricot verts. Plus, with the butter as the first thing in the pan, you will get a nice brown caramelized color on the shallots.

Shallots: Or a half onion. I have gotten into the conspiracy that shallots are a marketing ploy by companies that grow them because why are they more pungent and make me cry more than regular onions when they are meant to be sweeter, mild and delicate? They are still a better choice if you want a prominent oniony flavor without much onion. 

Slivered almonds: Besides being an extra crunch factor, slivered almonds add an earthy, nutty taste to the dish.

Ingredient Alternatives

Some excellent swaps for the ingredients listed above are:

• Butter: Use Ghee, clarified butter, almond, or vegetable oil.
• Shallots: Swap for a half medium onion.
• Almonds: Omit or replace them with your favorite nuts.

More Ingredients To Try

A few wonderful additions that can heighten the recipe’s flavors include:

• Garlic: Make delicious garlic haricot verts with 2 garlic cloves or ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Sesame seeds: Toast a tablespoon of sesame seeds and sprinkle over the sauteed haricot verts.
• Bacon: Crispy bacon is a fine crunchy addition to haricot verts with butter. Add bacon as an alternative to the nutty flavor of the almonds.
• Lemon juice: A squeeze of lemon juice or lemon/lime zest will brighten the dish.

Cooking Equipment

You need a handful of basic equipment to make the delicious haricot verts recipe:

• Medium cooking pot
• Skillet
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons
• Colander

How To Cook Haricot Verts with Shallots and Slivered Almonds: Complete Guide

Preparation Steps

1. Gather the ingredients and equipment for the recipe.
2. Wash the haricot verts thoroughly and trim their ends. 
3. Peel and chop the shallots.

Cooking Steps

1. Add 4 cups of water to the cooking pot and bring to a boil.
2. Blanch haricot verts. Add the haricot verts to the hot boiling water and cover the pot. Cook for 3-5 minutes until tender but firm.
3. Remove the blanched haricot verts from the hot water and transfer to the colander to drain. Rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process.
4. Heat the skillet over medium heat and add butter.
5. When the butter shimmers, add the chopped shallots to the skillet. Saute for about one minute or until slightly browned.
6. Add the haricot verts and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
7. Saute briefly, then add the slivered almonds. Mix well and serve immediately.

Quick Pro Tip

• Frozen haricot verts may work for this recipe but won’t yield the crispiest results. The best way to cook frozen haricot verts is by adding them to vegetable soups and stews. If you want the crispy texture, use the fresh and firm verts.

Leftover Storage and Reheating

• Storage: Transfer your leftover sauteed haricot verts to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

• Freezing: DO NOT freeze the sauteed green beans. They lose their crisp texture when thawed.
• Reheating: Reheat the haricot verts in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Stir continuously until heated through. You can also microwave them on medium power in short intervals. Start with 1 minute, then continue checking and stirring at 30-second intervals.

Conclusion

This Haricot verts recipe has a special place in my heart. I was a dedicated green bean hater for nearly all my life until I had haricot verts au beurre (haricot verts with butter) at a fancy restaurant. Even the fussiest veggie eater at your dinner table will appreciate this easy and flavorsome side dish. You can eat it with chicken, Charcoal-Grilled Steak, Wagyu Tomahawk Steak, pork, or any meat dish.

More Veggie Side Dishes To Try

If you loved this Haricot verts recipe, you may also like these easy and delicious sides:

• Sauteed Spinach with Bacon Recipe
• Easy Cucumber Salad

FAQs

What is the difference between haricot vert and green beans?

The haricot verts vs. green beans debacle is long-standing because of their similarities. Haricot verts are harvested earlier than green beans and thus have a longer and slimmer appearance. They are also more tender and flavorful.

Can I sautee haricot verts without blanching?

While blanching before sauteing yields great results, you can sautee the French green beans in hot oil without blanching to achieve a more intense green bean flavor and firm, crisp texture.

What is the best way to cook haricot verts?

This is a matter of personal preference. Sauteing is the best method if you love crisp, flavorful haricot verts. Roasted haricot verts have an intense nutty flavor and crisp texture. Steaming is great if you want to preserve the beans’ nutrients while keeping them tender and vibrant. Grill the verts for a smoky flavor and charred texture.