This green beans with cranberries and almonds recipe is the perfect holiday side dish. From start to finish, these cranberry almond green beans take 15 minutes to make. On top of that, you probably already have all the ingredients you need right in your pantry! Serve it alongside this vegan thanksgiving dressing for an extra tasty meal!
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Table of Contents
Growing up I absolutely hated green beans! That’s because we always had canned green beans. It wasn’t until I was at my great-grandparents house and my great-grandma cooked fresh greens from their garden that I found out how delicious they could be! Then, in my early 20’s I lived in Xi’an, China for a while and truly fell in love with green beans.
These cranberry almond green beans are the perfect fall side dish. Not only that, they are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Crisp green beans, along with almonds and cranberries, paired with soy sauce and garlic is a flavor-packed combo. (If you only have canned green beans on hand, then, I highly recommend making these canned green beans that actually taste good!)
When I make these green beans with almonds and cranberries, I love serving them along side dairy-free mashed potatoes, vegan gravy, and wild rice stuffed acorn squash.
Nutrition For Mental Health
As a nutritionist, I love green beans. Green beans contain several essential vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent source of vitamin C. In addition, they are a good source of manganese, folate, and vitamin A. Green beans also contain smaller amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, niacin, thiamine, and vitamins K, E, and B6. Studies have shown that vitamin C supplementation can have an antidepressant effect and improve overall mood.
Ingredients + Substitutions
This easy, 6-ingredient green beans and cranberries with almonds recipe is made with flavorful, easy-to-find ingredients. They are delicious! Just in case you need them, here are some substitutions if needed as well.
- Avocado oil: I like to use avocado oil. However, I always recommend using whatever you have on hand, whether that’s olive oil, coconut oil, or the like. Keep in mind that the various oils will have a slight impact on the overall taste.
- Soy sauce: This recipe uses low-sodium soy sauce. Alternatively, coconut aminos can work well too. Just remember, the taste will be a bit different.
- Almonds: Sliced almonds were used in this recipe for cranberry green beans with almonds. However, slivered almonds or even chopped almonds would work well too.
- Variations: Add your favorite fresh herbs to the mix, orange zest, or lemon zest! If you’re not sure how to zest citrus, you can use this guide for how to zest lemons.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Cranberry Almond Green Beans
Making green beans almonds and cranberries is super easy it’s cooked all in one pan making clean up a breeze.
- Heat oil in pan and evenly coat. Stir in garlic and green beans.
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- Stir fry over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Then, pour in soy sauce, almonds, cranberries, and pepper and sauté for another 6-8 minutes, until tender (but still a little crispy). (If needed, after about 5 minutes, cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes. This will reduce your cooking time. Additionally, you can add another tablespoon or so of soy sauce during the sautéing process if liquid has evaporated.)
- Serve hot, adding extra sliced almonds and cranberries on top.
Storage Tips
These cranberry green beans with almonds store well in the fridge. I always recommend storing food in an airtight container glass container because food stays fresher for longer in glass. These cranberry almond green beans can keep in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, give these almond green beans with cranberries a quick sauté on the stovetop over medium heat. Alternatively, microwave them for 60-90 seconds. Keep in mind that microwaving them can make them significantly softer than you are hoping for.
FAQ
Cranberries and almonds are incredibly good for you. Cranberries are high in antioxidants, and almonds are a great source of healthy plant-based fat.
There are several ways to add flavor to green beans. This recipe uses a combination of minced garlic, soy sauce, and pepper to flavor the green beans. However, salt and balsamic glaze are also flavorful options!
There are
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Recipe
Green Beans with Almonds and Cranberries
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound green beans, washed + trimmed (about 4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in pan and evenly coat. Stir in garlic and green beans.
- Stir fry over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Then, pour in soy sauce, almonds, cranberries, and pepper and sauté for another 6-8 minutes, until tender (but still a little crispy). (If needed, after about 5 minutes, cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes. This will reduce your cooking time. Additionally, you can add another tablespoon or so of soy sauce during the sautéing process if liquid has evaporated.)
- Serve hot, adding extra sliced almonds and cranberries on top.
Video
Notes
These cranberry green beans with almonds store well in the fridge. I always recommend storing food in an airtight container glass container because food stays fresher for longer in glass. These cranberry almond green beans can keep in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, give these almond green beans with cranberries a quick sauté on the stovetop over medium heat. Alternatively, microwave them for 60-90 seconds. Keep in mind that microwaving them can make them significantly softer than you are hoping for.
Nutrition
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Reference
Moritz, B., Schmitz, A. E., Rodrigues, A. L. S., Dafre, A. L., & Cunha, M. P. (2020). The role of vitamin C in stress-related disorders. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 85, 108459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108459
This was so simple and delicious!
So glad you liked this dish!