FRESH GREEN BEANS CASSEROLE RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add 2 quarts water and a generous pinch of salt to a Dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by combining 4 cups ice and 4 cups water in a large bowl. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook just until crisp-tender and bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the beans and immediately plunge them into the ice bath. When cool, drain again and set aside.
• Melt the butter in the Dutch oven over medium heat. When the bubbles have subsided, whisk in the flour until it is free of lumps. Cook until the mixture is slightly golden and smells of toasted nuts, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and cream, whisking constantly. Add the thyme and continue whisking until the mixture is smooth. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, spreading them in an even layer; do not season or stir the mushrooms. Cook until golden brown on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir to flip the mushrooms, then continue cooking until browned all over, another 3 minutes. Add the brandy, if using, and cook until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Season with pepper and then scrape the mushrooms into the pot with the cream sauce.
• Add the green beans to the mushroom cream sauce. Fold in 1 cup of the fried onions. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish.
• Bake until the casserole is hot and bubbling around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Top with the butter crackers and the remaining 1/2 cup fried onions. Bake for another 5 minutes, just to brown the topping. 

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.