Lemon Green Beans With Sea Salt Recipe
Tarla Dalal
• Updated : Jan 10, 2026
Table of Content
Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt is such a stunning way to enjoy French beans! Cooked in such a way that the vibrant green colour and juicy texture are retained, the beans are served with a sprinkling of sea salt and lemon zest, which give an awesome flavour.
Be generous with the sea salt as it is very effective in enhancing the taste of the beans. The beans must be crunchy after cooking – if you cook them for too long, they will become soft and the colour will darken.
You can also try other French Beans recipes like the Stir Fried French Beans and Garlic or Stir Fried French Beans with Kalonji .
Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt recipe - How to make Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt
Tags
Soaking Time
0
Preparation Time
10 Mins
Cooking Time
5 Mins
Baking Time
0 Mins
Baking Temperature
0
Sprouting Time
0
Total Time
15 Mins
Makes
3 servings
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 30 trimmed french beans
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
For The Topping
- sea salt (khada namak) to taste
- 1 tsp lemon rind
Method
- Heat enough water in a deep non-stick pan, add the salt and bring the water to boil, add the french beans and cook on medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
- Transfer immediately to ice-cold water and keep it aside for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Strain the french beans and remove all the excess water.
- Transfer them on a dry muslin cloth and let them dry completely.
- Combine the french beans, olive oil and lemon juice in a deep bowl and toss them well.
- Serve immediately topped with sea salt and lemon zest.
Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt recipe with step by step photos
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To make the Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt, Heat enough water in a deep non-stick pan and bring the water to boil.
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Add the salt.
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Add the trimmed french beans and cook on medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
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Transfer immediately to ice-cold water and keep it aside for 2 to 3 minutes.
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Strain the french beans and remove all the excess water.
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Transfer them on a dry muslin cloth and let them dry completely.
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Combine the french beans, 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp lemon juice in a deep bowl and toss them well.
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Serve Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt immediately topped with sea salt (khada namak) to taste and lemon zest.
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1. What is Lemon Green Beans With Sea Salt?
It’s a simple healthy snack/starter where French beans are lightly cooked to stay vibrant and crunchy, then tossed with lemon juice, sea salt, and olive oil for a refreshing taste.
2. How long does it take to prepare this recipe?
The total time is about 15 minutes 10 minutes for preparation and 5 minutes for cooking.
3. How many servings does this recipe make?
This recipe makes 3 servings.
4. What are the main ingredients needed?
You’ll need:
- French beans (trimmed)
- Salt
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Sea salt and lemon rind for topping
5. Can I use regular salt instead of sea salt?
Yes, regular salt can be used, but sea salt gives a stronger flavour contrast that enhances the dish.
6. How should the beans be cooked?
Boil them in salted water for 3–4 minutes until bright green and still crunchy. Then plunge into ice-cold water to stop cooking.
7. Do the beans need to be crispy or soft?
They should remain crunchy overcooking will soften them and dull their color.
8. Is this recipe healthy?
Yes it’s low in calories (about 57 kcal per serving) with minimal fat and is vegetable-rich.
9. Can this be served as what kind of dish?
It works well as a healthy snack, side dish, or light lunch option.
10. Can I add other flavours (e.g., garlic or herbs)?
Absolutely! While the original is simple, many lemon green bean variations include garlic, herbs, or pepper but these are personal tweaks, not part of the original recipe.
If you liked this Lemon Green Beans With Sea Salt Recipe then also check out other recipes like:
- French beans foogath recipe
- stir-fried French beans recipe
- Broccoli Bajra Salad
- Grilled Baingan in Olive Oil and Sea Salt
1. Don’t Overcook the Beans
Cook the green beans until they’re bright green and crunchy-tender about 3–4 minutes as in the original recipe then immediately plunge them into ice-cold water to stop cooking. This keeps the color and crisp texture.
2. Dry Beans Thoroughly
After blanching and cooling, pat the beans completely dry before tossing with oil and lemon. Excess water can dilute flavors and prevent the dressing from coating well.
3. Use Fresh Lemon Zest & Juice
Fresh lemon zest has much more zing than bottled lemon flavor. Grate zest before juicing for maximum aromatic impact. A little more zest won’t hurt!
4. Season Generously with Sea Salt
The recipe suggests being generous with sea salt because it enhances the overall flavor especially when balanced with lemon. Taste and adjust to your preference.
5. Add Extra Layer of Flavor
Optional additions like freshly cracked black pepper, minced garlic, or a drizzle of good extra-virgin olive oil can elevate the dish without overpowering it.
6. Serve Warm or Chill It
While the recipe is meant to be served immediately, these beans also make a refreshing cold side great for salads or meal prep. Just toss again with fresh lemon before serving.
7. Try Variations
For variation, consider adding herbs such as tarragon or thyme, a sprinkle of seeds (like chia), or even crumbled feta for a more Mediterranean twist.
Nutrient values (Abbrv)per plate
| Energy | 57 Calories |
| Protein | 0.7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 0.8 g |
| Fat | 5.1 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 519 mg |
Click here to view Calories for Lemon Green Beans with Sea Salt
The Nutrient info is complete
Manali Gawad
Nov. 30, 2018, 5:45 p.m.
I did not use the lemon zest and sea salt. Used a normal salt instead. I thought the recipe was a bit okay for one time trial.
Tarla Dalal
Nov. 30, 2018, 5:45 p.m.
Ok noted. Thank you for trying our recipe.
