Green Bean Casserole Recipe
A perfect side dish not only for Thanksgiving, but for any time of the year.
Equipment
1 chopping board
1 Vegetable slicer (optional) or
1 Sharp knife
2 Medium size bowls (1 bowl for soaking the onions and 1 is for flouring the onions),
1 Large iron skillet (for frying onions and for cooking the sauce later),
1 Wooden or silicone stirring/cooking spoon
1 Large flat plastic container (lined with paper towel to drain the oil off the onions),
1 Roll of paper towels
1 Large pot (for blanching the beans),
1 Strainer (for straining the blanched beans),
1 Roll or sheet of Aluminum foil (to cover the casserole before baking),
Ingredients
If you are using ready-made crispy onions, then you can get them on Amazon or at your local grocery store, make sure to get enough for 3 x 8oz cups (you want to be generous with the onions to coat all of the casserole)
Crispy Onion Topping Ingredients: (if you are making them yourself)
- 3 medium yellow onions thinly sliced
- 2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups milk + 3 tablespoons lemon juice or plant based alternative
- 1½ cups quinoa flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for frying: extra-virgin olive oil avocado oil, or vegetable oil
- Optional: panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese for topping
Casserole Ingredients:
- 2 pounds approximately 1 kg fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons quinoa flour or all-purpose flour to thicken the sauce
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup of full fat milk or plant based alternative
- 1 cup of heavy cream or plant based alternative
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the crispy onions. (If making yourself)
- Soak the thinly sliced onions in buttermilk for 15 to 20 minutes. This softens the onions and helps the coating stick well.
- Heat about ½ inch of oil in a skillet over medium-low heat until shimmering. Drain onions from the buttermilk and dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.
- Making sure the oil is very hot, fry the onions in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, gently moving them around with the spoon while frying. Keep frying until they are golden and crispy.
- Drain on paper towels and lightly season with salt while still warm.
- Note: If the oil gets too many crumbs in it, you may need to swap out the oil and change to fresh hot oil for each batch. (I did this amount in 3 batches in a 13 inch skillet). If you use quinoa flour you will need to replace the oil for each batch as the crumbs fall off more than the regular wheat flour and burn, so you will need to get read of them or strain the oil for the next batch and add more.
For the green bean casserole.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 5 minutes, until they’re vibrant green and slightly tender.
- Immediately transfer the beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain very well before using.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Sprinkle flour evenly over the onion mixture and stir well. Cook for 2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
- Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, stirring to avoid lumps. Add milk and cream and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the blanched green beans with the cream sauce, stirring gently to coat all the beans.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle the crispy onions evenly on top (add panko/parmesan if using), and bake uncovered for 5 more minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
Notes
Calories and macronutrients approximate; subject to brand and ingredient variations.
Nutrition
Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 7gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gFiber: 7gSugar: 4g
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was in the comments below.