Buttered Green Beans with Lemon
Buttered Green Beans with Lemon is a simple, elegant side dish featuring crisp-tender green beans sautéed or tossed in melted butter with a bright finish of fresh lemon juice and zest. This classic preparation, often associated with American and European home cooking, relies on minimal ingredients to highlight the natural flavor of the beans. It's a popular accompaniment to roasted meats, poultry, and fish.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is low in carbohydrates and protein but moderate in fat due to the butter, providing a good source of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate. A typical serving contains approximately 100-150 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 110 kcal |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbs | 8 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
| Vitamin C | 20 mg |
| Vitamin K | 45 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 750 IU |
| Folate | 30 mcg |
| Potassium | 200 mg |
| Manganese | 0.3 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
Per 1 cup (125 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The combination is nutritionally clever, as the vitamin C from the lemon enhances the absorption of the non-heme iron found in the green beans. Culturally, it represents a timeless 'less is more' approach to cooking, where a few quality ingredients are transformed into a vibrant, flavorful side.
