Modern Green Bean Casserole Recipes

Steps:

• 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.

Steps:

• Cook the green beans: In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Salt the water generously; it should taste like sea water.
• Prepare an ice bath: Fill a large bowl halfway with ice and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath; the colander will keep you from having to pick the beans out from amongst the ice cubes. Plunge the green beans into the water and cook 2 to 3 minutes. When the beans are cooked, remove them from the hot water with a strainer and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Use a spoon to "swirl" the beans around in the ice bath so they cool quickly. Drain.
• Make the mushroom base: In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the butter and add the mushrooms. Season with salt and add the mustard and cayenne. Cook until the mushrooms give off most of their liquid, 5 to 8 minutes. Whisk the garlic and flour into the mushrooms. Cook the flour 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly so it doesn't stick or burn, and then add the chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and reduce 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cream and sour cream and simmer gently. Continue cooking over low heat until the mixture thickens, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fry the onions: Pour the oil into a medium frying pan. Heat to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour and cayenne. Toss the onion rounds in the flour and "shake" off excess by shaking the rounds in a strainer once they have been breaded. Test the oil by dropping in a few slices; they should rise to the surface and fry gradually.
• Prepare a baking sheet fitted with a kitchen towel. Drop a small batch of the onions into the oil and gently "swirl" with a slotted spoon in the oil as they fry; this will help them fry more evenly on all sides. Fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and spread on the baking sheet. Season immediately with salt.
• Bake and serve: When ready to serve, stir the green beans into the mushrooms. Simmer on the stove over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes so the beans and sauce meld together. Add more cream and a splash water if the sauce is too thick. Transfer the skillet to the oven for 8 to 10 minutes to finish heating it and to give the casserole that "baked" effect. Remove from the oven and top with the fried onions. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish or gratin.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add green beans. Boil for 5 minutes and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain on a kitchen towel.
• Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add bacon. Cook until crispy, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to paper towels and let cool.
• Discard all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in pan and return to heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and turn heat up slightly. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of pan, until mushrooms begin to sweat. Add salt to taste and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl whisk together crème fraîche and cream. Stir in Gruyère. Add green beans, mushrooms and shallots, and marjoram or thyme. Crumble in bacon. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir everything together until beans are well coated. Transfer to baking dish.
• Melt remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs(or Ritz crackers). Sprinkle evenly over top of casserole. Bake 30 minutes, until bread crumbs are golden brown and casserole is bubbling. Remove from heat, let sit until bubbles subside, and serve.