The BEST Green Beans with French Fried Shallots and Toasted Almonds.
Crunchy.
French fried.
Shallots.
Honestly, do you even need the green beans?
No, but for real–these green beans with french fried shallots will elevate your side dish game like no other. They’re delicious, easy to make, and a total showstopper.
Let’s get into it!
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What’s So Special About These Green Beans?
French fried shallots.
That’s what’s special about these green beans.
Need I say more?
These green beans with French fried shallots are also packed with flavor. We use shallots, a little white wine, and toasted almonds to dress the beans like royalty. These green beans are also really easy to make. You don’t need to blanch them in advance or double fry them.
Finally, French fried shallots.
Key Ingredients and Notes on Substitutions for Green Beans with French Fried Shallots.
Green Beans.
For these green beans with French fried shallots, I like using those skinny French green beans (in part to keep things thematically consistent…!). These are sometimes referred to as haricot verts. If you can find these at your grocery store or farmers market, go with these. Otherwise, you can also just use regular green beans, though the thicker they are, the less evenly they may cook.
I would not try to use pre-cooked green beans for this green beans and French fried shallots recipe, as they will definitely turn out soggy.
Buttermilk.
In order to make the French fried shallots for these green beans with French fried shallots, you will need buttercream. I like to make my own with a little milk (I prefer Chobani’s Extra Creamy Oat Milk) and acid (I used vinegar, but you can also use lemon juice). If you don’t have buttermilk or can’t make your own, you can just use milk.
Shallots.
As the name of this recipe suggests, there are shallots involved. I like shallots because they are a little more delicate than onions, while imparting intense flavor. That said, if you don’t have shallots, you can definitely replace them with onions–just make sure they are very thinly julienned!
All Purpose Flour.
To make the French fried shallots for these green beans with French fried shallots, we dredge the aforementioned shallots in some all purpose flour. However, if you don’t want to use flour, you can also use cornstarch or potato starch to keep this recipe gluten-free!
Almonds.
The combination of almonds and green beans goes way back. This recipe for green beans with French fried shallots also calls for almonds, which will add a lovely crunch as well as a delightfully nutty and buttery flavor. If you don’t have almonds, you can also use pecans, though I find pecans to be a bit heavy for green beans. You can also try using marcona almonds, though I’ve never seen them sliced like regular almonds (you could chop them). Marcona almonds are also quite decadent and I would feel a little guilty about toasting them in butter!
White Wine.
Look, I wanted to fancify this dish with a little white wine. I think white wine, when reduced, intensifies all the other flavors while adding a few bright notes of acid to cut through the buttered nuts and shallots and, of course, the French fried shallots. But of course, if you don’t want to use white wine, you can substitute with a little vegetable broth and lemon juice.
Butter.
Speaking of “elevated,” yes, this green beans and French fried shallots recipe calls for butter. I mean, it has “French” in the name, so of course it requires butter! I use Earth Balance, but if you don’t want to use butter, you can absolutely substitute with extra virgin olive oil!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Green Beans with French Fried Shallots.
Step 1.
Make the fried shallots: whisk the plant milk together with vinegar to make buttermilk. Set aside for about 10 minutes. Then, place your thinly julienned shallots in your buttermilk while you prepare the flour dredge. Prepare the flour dredge by whisking together flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place in a shallow bowl.
Step 2.
Bring your oil to a temperature of 350° F (or hot enough so that when you drop a speck of flour in, it bubbles right up to the surface). Coat the shallots soaking in the buttermilk with your flour mixture. Then drop them in the oil. Fry until they are golden brown (around 2 minutes) and drain on paper towels or on a wire rack.
Step 3.
Make the green beans: Add butter to a large pan over medium heat. When it has melted (about 1 minute), add almonds and cook until they are golden brown (around 5 to 7 minutes). Next, add the shallots, salt, and pepper. Sauté until fragrant (around 2 minutes). Deglaze with the wine and cook down until all of it has evaporated (around 3 minutes). Remove the almonds and shallots from the pan.
Step 4.
Add green beans to the pan over medium high heat, together with ½ cup water. Pop the lid on and allow it to cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. Then, take the lid off and cook until all the liquid is gone (around 2 more minutes).
Place the green beans on your serving platter and top with almond and shallot mixture, along with fried shallots.
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Frequently Asked Questions.
Can I make these green beans with French fried shallots in advance?
Yup! You can make these green beans up to 48 hours in advance, so long as they aren’t topped with the French fried shallots. You should store the French fried shallots in an airtight container in the refrigerator and then give them a quick refry before serving. As for the green beans, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and then bring them to room temperature just before serving.
Can I make these green beans with French fried shallots gluten-free?
Yes! Simply swap out all purpose flour for cornstarch or potato starch and keep this recipe totally gluten-free!
Recipe Card.
Green Beans with French Fried Shallots.
Ingredients
French Fried Shallots.
- 1/2 cup milk (I used Chobani's Extra Creamy Oat Milk)
- 1 tbsp vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 2 small shallots, thinly julienned
- 1 cup all purpose flour (can substitute in corn starch)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Oil for frying
Green Beans.
- 2 tbsp butter (I used Earth Balance or Country Crock's Plant Butter)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2 small shallots, julienned
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp white wine (can substitute vegetable broth and/or lemon juice)
- 1 lb French green beans, cleaned and trimmed
Instructions
- Make the fried shallots: whisk the plant milk together with vinegar to make buttermilk. Set aside for about 10 minutes. Then, place your thinly julienned shallots in your buttermilk while you prepare the flour dredge. Prepare the flour dredge by whisking together flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place in a shallow bowl.
- Bring your oil to a temperature of 350° F (or hot enough so that when you drop a speck of flour in, it bubbles right up to the surface). Coat the shallots soaking in the buttermilk with your flour mixture. Then drop them in the oil. Fry until they are golden brown (around 2 minutes) and drain on paper towels or on a wire rack.
- Make the green beans: Add butter to a large pan over medium heat. When it has melted (about 1 minute), add almonds and cook until they are golden and brown (around 5 to 7 minutes). Next, add the shallots, salt, and pepper. Sauté until fragrant (around 2 minutes). Deglaze with the wine and cook down until all of it has evaporated (around 3 minutes). Remove the almonds and shallots from the pan.
- Add green beans to the pan over medium high heat, together with ½ cup water. Pop the lid on and allow it to cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. Then, take the lid off and cook until all the liquid is gone (around 2 more minutes). Place the green beans on your serving platter and top with almond and shallot mixture, along with fried shallots.
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