Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole. Some people love it. Some hate it. I have to admit that the holidays just don’t seem the same to me without some green bean casserole. It holds a nostalgic place in my heart. Last year, I made the recipe that most people are used to eating. The one off the French’s fried onions can.
When I saw Alton Brown make a green bean casserole completely from scratch, I just knew I had to try it. Getting rid of the uber processed cream of mushroom soup is a big plus in my mind. Making the entire recipe from scratch does take a bit more time, but it’s definitely worth it. Hubby even said he loved this version. I made the casserole in advance and then just baked it the last fifteen minutes just prior to serving.
I used 8 oz of portobello mushrooms and 4 oz of shitake mushrooms to enhance the mushroom flavor even more. The shitake definitely upped the creaminess of the entire dish. I have to admit, after making this recipe, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the other version!
One Year Ago: Cookie Dough Brownies
Two Years Ago: Peppermint Sandies
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Yield: 6
Ingredients:
For the Topping
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup flour
2 Tbsp panko bread crumbs
1 tsp kosher salt
Nonstick spray
For the Beans
1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
1 gallon water
2 Tbsp kosher salt
For the Sauce
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
12 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
Combine the onions, flour, panko and salt in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Coat a sheet panwith nonstick spray and evenly spread the onions on the pan. Bake in the oven until golden brown, tossing every 10 minutes, for approximately 30 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside until ready to use.
Turn the oven down to 400 degrees F.
While the onions are cooking, prepare the beans. Bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons of salt to aboil in an 8-quart saucepan. Blanch for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give up some of their liquid, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and nutmeg and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth andsimmer for 1 minute. Add the half-and-half and cook until the mixture thickens, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 of the onions and all of the green beans. Top with the remaining onions. Place into the oven and bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.
Recipe from Alton Brown
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This dish sounds great! I love sweet potatoes and black beans together, and the cilantro and lime sound like the perfect flavor additions.
My fiance isn’t the biggest fan of beans so I try to “sneak” them into dishes and this looks a great recipe to try out!
I absolutely adore sweet potatoes but wud have never thought of flavoring them with cilantro and lime. This sounds like it would turn out super delicious.
We always have black beans in the house too and they are just perfect with sweet potatoes too – yum!
Oh dear, I never thought of pairing these 4 fave flavors together. Amazing : )
Yum! I love black beans and I also love that they are super good for you. I think this would be an awesome quick weeknight dinner!
perfect combo of tastes. I would love to try this one.
Mmmm what a refreshing twist on sweet potatoes! These sound hearty and delicious!
What a great recipe and beautiful photo. Black beans and sweet potatoes (and cilantro, for that matter!) are a couple of my favorite foods, so I know that I’d love this!
Yum! I love black beans in salads. This sounds great!
And great pictures, too!
Made a half recipe and loved it hot or cold! Took to a work pot luck and a hit with everyone. Thanks for another great recipe.