Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole bakes blanched green beans in a mushroom cream sauce, then tops them with crispy fried onions for a contrast of textures that defines this American holiday side dish. Blanching the beans for just three minutes and shocking them in ice water preserves their bright green color and a slight crunch that survives the oven. Sauteing onion and mushrooms in butter, stirring in flour to build a roux, and gradually adding milk produces a smooth cream sauce infused with earthy mushroom flavor. After twenty minutes in the oven, the casserole is pulled out and topped with fried onions, then returned for five more minutes so the onions crisp without burning. The finished dish layers the crunch of the topping against the creamy sauce and tender-crisp beans.
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Instructions
- 1
Blanch green beans for 3 minutes and shock in cold water.
- 2
Saute onion and mushrooms in butter.
- 3
Stir in flour, then add milk to form a creamy sauce.
- 4
Combine green beans with sauce and transfer to a baking dish.
- 5
Bake at 180C for 20 minutes, top with fried onions, and bake 5 more minutes.
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