Best Americas Test Kitchen Green Bean Casserole Recipes

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place green beans into a saucepan and fill with about 1/2 inch of water. Bring to a boil and steam until beans are tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes. Drain and toss with the mushrooms. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and parsley; cook and stir until onion is tender. Whisk in flour until blended, then mix in the lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly, so that no lumps form and then stir in sour cream. Warm over medium heat until the sauce begins to bubble. Dump in the green beans and mushrooms, stirring to coat.
• Remove from the heat and toss briefly with some of the Cheddar cheese and French fried onions, saving some of each to sprinkle over the top. Spoon into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and top with the reserved onions and cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese melts, about 15 minutes.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the topping: pulse the bread, softened butter, salt and pepper in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about ten 1-second pulses. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the onions; set aside.
• For the beans: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bring 4 qt water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tbsp salt and the beans. Cook until bright green and slightly crunchy, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the beans and plunge immediately into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop cooking. Spread the beans out on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• Meanwhile, cover the dried porcini mushrooms with 1/2 cup hot tap water in a small microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents with a paring knife, and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Let stand until the mushrooms soften, about 5 minutes. Lift the mushrooms from the liquid with a fork and mince using a chef's knife (you should have about 2 tablespoons). Pour the liquid through a paper towel-lined sieve and reserve.
• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until the foaming subsides, about 1 minute. Add the onion, button and cremini mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms release their moisture, about 2 minutes. Add the porcini mushrooms along with their strained soaking liquid, thyme, 1 tsp salt and pepper; cook until all the mushrooms are tender and the liquid has reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the broth and reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the cream and simmer gently until the sauce has the consistency of a dense soup, about 15 minutes.
• Arrange the beans in a 3-quart gratin dish. Pour the mushroom mixture over the beans and mix to coat the beans evenly. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and bake until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.