The All-New Green Bean Casserole
This comforting green bean casserole is a classic side dish perfect for any gathering. Tender-crisp green beans are smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce and topped with crispy fried shallots, creating a delicious blend of textures and flavors. It's an easy-to-make dish that will surely become a family favorite.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lbs. green beans
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
- 10 oz. button mushrooms, sliced
- 3 large shallots, plus 3 Tbs. minced
- 1/3 cup plus 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 tsp. soy sauce, preferably mushroom soy sauce
- Canola oil for deep-frying
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a deep 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Trim the green beans and halve crosswise. Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans and cook until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes.
- Drain and rinse under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels and set aside. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they give off their juices and are browned, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the 3 Tbs. minced shallots and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the 3 Tbs. flour and stir well. Slowly stir in the half-and-half, stock and soy sauce and then bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring, until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the green beans, season with salt and pepper and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. (The casserole can be prepared to this point up to 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated.) Bake until the liquid is bubbling, about 20 minutes (30 minutes if it has been refrigerated).
- While the casserole is baking, pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a heavy saucepan and heat over high heat to 350°F on a deep-frying thermometer. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and place near the stove. Cut the remaining 3 shallots crosswise into slices 1/8 inch thick and separate into rings. Place the remaining 1/3 cup flour in a small bowl. Toss the shallot rings in the flour to coat evenly, shaking off the excess. In batches to avoid crowding, add the shallots to the hot oil and deep-fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Transfer to the paper towels to drain.
- Remove the casserole from the oven, scatter the fried shallots on top and serve. Serves 6 to 8.
- Variation: Substitute 1 head broccoli (about 1 1/2 lbs.) cut into florets, for the green beans. If you don’t feel like frying the shallots, sprinkle 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds over the casserole before serving.
- Adapted from Williams-Sonoma <i>Comfort Food,</i> by Rick Rodgers (Oxmoor House, 2009).
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