Showing posts with label green beans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green beans. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Green Bean Casserole from scratch




Call me silly, but I still love the classic Green Bean Casserole . . . it is one of my favorite comfort foods.   It is one of those dishes that is delicious and goes with so many meal combinations, but for me it also brings back memories of my childhood sitting around the table with family.  Funny how just the aroma and taste of the food can take you back to certain times in the past.

Although the classic semi-homemade version is awesome and easy, this recipe caught my attention since just about anything prepared from scratch is much better.  

I'm looking forward to making this version with fresh green beans . . . I have always used the version with canned green beans.  That one thing has to make a huge difference in taste.




Ingredients

For the topping:
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Nonstick cooking spray

For beans and sauce:
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons all-purpose 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 pan with nonstick cooking spray and evenly spread the onions on the pan. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes. Toss the onions 2 to 3 times during cooking. 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 a boil in an 8-quart saucepan. Add the beans and 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, 1 teaspoon 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 and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, 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.

Source: The Food Network/Alton Brown



Photo source and another variation with photos


Sunday, December 27, 2009

Creole Green Beans


Green beans are low in calories and loaded with nutrients — an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, foliate, and iron . . . they are a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.


Substitute olive oil instead of butter and use fresh green beans to make this recipe healthier.  Bacon? Up to you . . . but bacon makes everything better.



1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 (14 ounce) package frozen green beans
6 thick slices bacon, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste


Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. 

Stir in green beans, bacon, onion, green pepper, and garlic; cook and stir until onions are translucent, about 2 minutes. 

Stir in cayenne pepper, Creole seasoning, and black pepper. Cover; reduce heat to low. 

Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. 

Season to taste with salt. 





Visit Our Etsy Shop