These Pan Fried Green Beans are blistered in olive oil, tossed with garlic and fresh herbs, then finished with a bright lemon tahini sauce, all in about 25 minutes. They're quick enough for a weeknight dinner but have the kind of Mediterranean flavor that feels a little special, similar to my Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini Sauce.
Pan Fried Green Beans At A Glance
- 🕒 Total Time: 25 minutes (10 minutes prep + 15 minutes cook)
- 👥 Servings: 6
- 🌍 Cuisine Type: Mediterranean / American
- 🫒 Flavor Profile: Blistered green beans with garlic, fresh herbs, and a bright lemon tahini sauce
- 🌱 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, vegetarian, Mediterranean-inspired
- 📦 Storage Notes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days; best reheated in a skillet or low oven for the best texture
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: A quick, flavor-forward vegetable side that feels elevated enough for holidays or dinner parties but easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Save And Summarize This Recipe
If you enjoy simple Mediterranean vegetable sides, there are plenty of fresh options to round out dinner. These green beans pair especially well with the bright flavors in my Roasted Eggplant, Greek Green Beans, or the caramelized edges on these Roasted Zucchini Slices.
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For a full Mediterranean-style dinner, serve these green beans alongside something hearty and flavorful. They work beautifully with Mediterranean Salmon, Greek Shrimp With Feta, or a side of Mediterranean Rice when you want a dinner that feels special without adding much extra work.
Key Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make these green beans with a lemon sauce:
- Green Beans - Thin haricots verts work especially well here because they blister quickly and stay crisp-tender in the pan. Standard green beans also work, but they may need an extra 2-3 minutes of cooking time. During testing, overcrowding the pan caused the beans to steam instead of blister, so cooking them in two batches made a noticeable difference in both texture and flavor.
- Tahini - Tahini gives the sauce its creamy texture and nutty flavor without feeling heavy. Some brands are much thicker and more bitter than others, so you may need a little extra warm water to loosen the sauce into a drizzleable consistency. If you enjoy Mediterranean sauces and dressings, my Lemon Tahini Sauce uses the same bright, citrusy flavor profile.
See the recipe card for quantities
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Variations
- Nuts or seeds - toast some almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or other nuts and place them on top of the tahini
- Spicy - While blistering the green beans, add some red pepper to the pan to toast alongside the beans while cooking.
- Tahini dressing - if you do not like a tahini dressing, you can simply use a lemon butter sauce. Once the beans are done in the pan, remove them and wipe out the pan. Add some butter and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the pan and, over medium heat, reduce the sauce to half. Place on top of the green beans and serve.
How To Make Pan Fried Green Beans: Step-By-Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that the full instructions with the exact ingredients are in the printable recipe card:
Step 1: Make the tahini sauce by combining the tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and water.
Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large skillet. Add half of the green beans.
Step 3: Saute the green beans until they are brown and blistered.
Step 4: Add the garlic and saute until brown. Add the rosemary and parsley. Stir to combine. Place the green beans on a platter and repeat with the other half of the green beans. When finished, top with the tahini sauce and serve.
Gwen's Pro Tip
If you are nervous about blistering these green beans in a pan, simply roast them. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Place the green beans on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and kosher salt. Roast for 15-20 minutes until blistered and cooked through.
FAQ's
Cooks snap off the end of green beans so that they can cook evenly and be more tender. Plus, you would not want to eat the stem.
No. There is no reason to soak your green beans before cooking them; however, rinsing them under water will help to clean them prior to cooking.
Other Mediterranean Bean Recipes
Let me know your thoughts on these Pan Fried Green Beans by leaving a star rating below or by sharing it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Thank you!
Gwen
Pan Fried Green Beans With Lemon Tahini
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Equipment
Ingredients
Lemon Tahini Sauce
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest grated
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon warm water
- Kosher salt and pepper
Green Beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound green beans trimmed
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon rosemary chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons parsley chopped
Instructions
Make the sauce:
- Whisk the tahini with water.
- Add the lemon juice, zest, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk until smooth. You may need to add more water to get to a saucy consistency.
Make the Green Beans:
- Heat 2T of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add half of the green beans and saute' until brown, blistered, and wrinkled in spots.About 6 minutes.
- Add garlic and continue to saute' until lightly brown.
- Add half of the rosemary and parsley, along with a touch of salt to combine.
- Transfer to a platter and then repeat with the rest of the green beans.
- Drizzle the green beans with the dressing. Grate some lemon zest over the top.
Sage Scott says
The lemon tahini sauce takes green beans from regular to out-of-this-world! I'm going to make them like this from now on!
Anonymous says
Yum