Ingredients for Green Bean Casserole From Cooks Illustrated
- 4 slices White Bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (2 tablespoons for topping, 2 tablespoons for sauce)
- 2 tablespoons Table Salt (for blanching), plus 1/4 teaspoon (for topping), plus ¾ teaspoon (for sauce), plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper (for topping), plus ⅛ teaspoon (for sauce)
- 1 cup Fried Onions
- 2 pounds Green Beans, trimmed
- 1 pound White Button Mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- Fresh Ground Black Pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup Unbleached All Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
- 4 quarts Water (for blanching green beans)
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How to Make Green Bean Casserole From Cooks Illustrated
- **Make the topping:** Pulse bread cubes, melted butter, salt, and pepper in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs (about 10 one-second pulses). Transfer to a bowl and toss with the onion. Set aside.
- **Blanch the green beans:** Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the green beans. Cook until bright green and crisp-tender (about 6 minutes). Drain beans immediately in a colander and plunge into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Spread beans on paper towels to dry completely.
- **Make the mushroom sauce:** Melt butter in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Cook until mushrooms release moisture and liquid evaporates (about 6-8 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
- Stir in heavy cream and reduce heat to medium. Simmer until sauce thickens and reduces to about 3 ½ cups (about 12 minutes), stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- **Combine and bake:** Add blanched green beans to the sauce and stir until evenly coated. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with the breadcrumb topping.
- Bake in a preheated 425°F oven until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges (about 15-20 minutes).
- **Serve immediately.** Enjoy!
Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)
Sodium
5 g
Sugar
17g
Fat
60g
Carbs
5g
