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Green Bean Salad

By Rebeccah Marsters

Published on February 5, 2014

Time

50 minutes, plus 30 minutes resting

Yield

Serves 8

Green Bean Salad

Ingredients

2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch lengthsSalt and pepper 1 shallot, minced1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 3 tablespoons juice1 garlic clove, minced¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 8 radishes, trimmed and sliced thin3 tablespoons minced fresh dill ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Before You Begin

If you don’t own a salad spinner, lay the green beans on a clean dish towel to dry in step 1. Our favorite Dijon is Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard. Substitute parsley for the dill, if you like.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Fill large bowl halfway with ice and water. Add green beans and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Drain green beans and place in ice bath to cool. Drain again, transfer to salad spinner, and spin dry. (Blanched, shocked, and dried green beans can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
  2. Whisk shallot, mustard, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until incorporated. Toss radishes, dill, and green beans with vinaigrette and let sit for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir almonds into salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Green Bean Salad

Green Bean Salad

Headshot of Rebeccah Marsters
By Rebeccah Marsters
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Time

50 minutes, plus 30 minutes resting

Yield

Serves 8

Ingredients

2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
Salt and pepper
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 radishes, trimmed and sliced thin
3 tablespoons minced fresh dill
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Ingredients

2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
Salt and pepper
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 radishes, trimmed and sliced thin
3 tablespoons minced fresh dill
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Ingredients

2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
Salt and pepper
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 radishes, trimmed and sliced thin
3 tablespoons minced fresh dill
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Why This Recipe Works

A room-temperature side dish reduces the pre-meal rush at any get together, and crunchy green beans were the perfect candidate for this fresh salad. Blanching the beans tenderizes them, and shocking them in ice water ensures that they keep their vibrant color in the acidic dressing. Lemon, shallot, mustard, garlic, and oil compose the simple vinaigrette, and grassy dill adds brightness. Radishes provide a peppery bite, and toasted almonds—introduced at the last minute—add a nutty crunch.

Before You Begin

If you don’t own a salad spinner, lay the green beans on a clean dish towel to dry in step 1. Our favorite Dijon is Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard. Substitute parsley for the dill, if you like.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Fill large bowl halfway with ice and water. Add green beans and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Drain green beans and place in ice bath to cool. Drain again, transfer to salad spinner, and spin dry. (Blanched, shocked, and dried green beans can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
  2. Whisk shallot, mustard, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until incorporated. Toss radishes, dill, and green beans with vinaigrette and let sit for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir almonds into salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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