Creamy Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

Ingredients

1. 1

   Step 1

   Blanch the beans

   • Ingredients:
     • 12 ounces green beans
     • Salted boiling water
     • Ice bath
   • Action: Boil beans for 3 minutes until bright, then plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain well and pat dry.
2. 2

   Step 2

   Sauté mushrooms

   • Ingredients:
     • 2 tablespoons butter
     • 8 ounces mushrooms
     • Minced shallot
     • 1 teaspoon garlic
     • 1/4 teaspoons salt
   • Action: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and shallot 5 minutes until browned, stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
3. 3

   Step 3

   Build the sauce

   • Ingredients:
     • 2 tablespoons flour
     • 1/2 cups chicken stock
     • 3/4 cups heavy cream
     • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
     • 1/4 teaspoons pepper
     • 1/4 cups Parmesan
   • Action: Sprinkle flour over mushrooms and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in stock, then cream, mustard, salt, and pepper; simmer 3 minutes until thick and fold in half the Parmesan.
4. 4

   Step 4

   Assemble

   • Ingredients:
     • Blanched beans
     • Mushroom-Parmesan sauce
   • Action: Toss beans with sauce to coat evenly and spread into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan on top.
5. 5

   Step 5

   Bake and finish

   • Ingredients:
     • 1 cup crispy fried onions
   • Action: Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes until bubbling. Scatter onions over the casserole and bake 5 more minutes until crisp and golden.

Step insights

• Blanching and shocking the beans locks in color and prevents overcooking later.

• Building a roux with butter and flour gives you a velvety sauce without canned soup.

Equipment

• 4 quarts pot or Dutch oven

• Large bowl filled with ice water

• 12-inch skillet

• Whisk and wooden spoon

• 8x8 baking dish

• Measuring cups and spoons