A divine Green Bean Salad Recipe with buttery hazelnuts and orange make a perfect side dish, that goes with just about everything and ideal for any occasion – from weekday dinners to elegant dinner parties.
This Green Bean Salad recipe is easy, delicious, and nutritious and is simply made by sautéing the beans then adding roasted hazelnuts for some crunch and perfuming it all with some sweet orange.
Can I Use Other Beans?
Any green beans or even pea varieties are great for this recipe so feel free to replace your green beans with any bean or pea that takes your fancy.
- Snow peas which are flat with small peas inside and crunchy texture with a mild flavour
- Sugar snap peas are round with crunchy texture and very sweet flavour.
- Flat green beans/romano/Italian beans are long, tender, and flat they are crunchy when raw and tender when cooked.
- French green beans (also known as haricot vert) are very skinny and available in yellow and purple as well as green and have a sweet flavour and delicate texture.
- Chinese long beans (also known as snake beans or yard-long beans) are popular in Asian cuisines, they are slim so are easy to cook.
How to Make This Salad
Step 1 - Roast Your Hazelnuts
Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF).
Line a baking tray with baking paper and arrange your nuts on top so they spread out evenly and are not touching.
Place the tray with the nuts in the middle of your oven and roast for 10-15 minutes until the skins have blistered. Stirring occasionally so that they brown evenly, your nuts should be golden brown and fragrant.
Remove them from the oven, then wrap your nuts in a clean kitchen towel and let them steam for one minute.
Rub them in the towel until most of the skins peel off and allow them to cool completely.
Not all of the skin may come off, and that's perfectly fine.
Step 2 - Wash & Trim Beans
Wash your green beans, top, tail them and remove the strings if necessary (most beans nowadays are stringless).
Then cut them in half.
Step 2 - Cook Your Beans
Heat a large heavy-based pan to medium-high heat, add your oil and beans then season. Sauté the green beans until browned, (approximately 10 minutes).
Add the orange zest and stir until mixed through and aromatic.
Step 3 - Add Juices & Hazelnuts
Add the orange and lemon juice, allow to sizzle and steam for 1-2 minutes so that beans can absorb the flavour.
Then add the roasted hazelnuts and stir through the beans.
Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking. Arrange in a salad bowl, scatter with the reserved hazelnuts and serve while still warm.
Serving Suggestions
Partners well with barbecued steak, chicken, turkey, seafood or even pasta dishes and is packable which means it is ideal to take to a barbecue or pot luck.
Try it with Texas Barbecue Brisket, with Roast Turkey or a Pork Belly Roast.
Tips and Questions
Can I Use Frozen Green Beans for the Salad?
While fresh green beans are preferred for the best texture and flavor, you can use frozen green beans in a pinch. Just make sure to thaw and pat them dry before sautéing.
How Do I Store Leftover Sautéed Green Bean Salad?
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, it's best to consume it within 1-2 days to maintain the freshness and texture of the ingredients.
Can I Make the Salad in Advance for a Party or Gathering?
That depends if you would like to serve it as a hot side dish or as a cold salad. Some time saving tips on the day.
- Roast your hazelnuts up to one month in advance and keep in a sealed container in your pantry until you are ready to use. In fact, because roasting hazelnuts can get a bit messy, I always by 1-2 kilos, roast and peel them and keep them in a sealed container in my pantry (during the winter) and in my fridge (during the summer).
- You can prepare the beans 1-2 days in advance, make sure that they are completely dry before you store them in the crisper section of your fridge as they may get a bit slimy.
- Zest and juice your orange 1-2 days ahead.
- To serve it hot, sauté your beans, and assemble your salad 15 minutes just before you are ready to serve.
How Do I Reheat the Sautéed Green Beans Without Losing Their Crispness?
To reheat sautéed green beans, use a quick sauté in a pan with a bit of oil over medium heat. Be cautious not to overcook them, as they can lose their crispness.
Can I Swap the Hazelnuts?
- You can replace hazelnuts with almonds, pecans, or walnuts they will all complement the flavors in the salad.
- If there are nut allergies, you can substitute the hazelnuts with seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a crunchy element.
Looking for More Bean Salad Recipes?
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 600 grams green beans
- 4 tbsps olive oil
- Zest of 1 Orange
- ¾ cup hazelnuts, roasted (reserve a tablespoon for garnish)
- 3 tbsps orange juice
- 3 tbsps lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash your green beans, top, tail them, then cut them in half.
- Heat a large heavy-based pan to medium-high heat, add your oil and beans then season. Sauté the green beans until browned, (approximately 10 minutes) add the orange zest and stir until mixed through and aromatic.
- Add the orange and lemon juice, allow to sizzle and steam for 1-2 minutes so that beans can absorb the flavour. Then add the roasted hazelnuts and stir through the beans.
- Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking. Arrange in a salad bowl, scatter with the reserved hazelnuts and serve while still warm.
Maria says
Love my green beans. Will definitely give this one a try!
Anastasia says
So glad you like it! Let me know how you go ?