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The holidays tend to bring up a lot of food traditions and we all have at least one relative that wants to stick to the old standards, point-blank refusing to try any new foods between November and New Year's. But even if you're sticking with tradition, you can still improve on the original recipe. Alanna, from A Veggie Venture, made the World's Best Green Bean Casserole based on a recipe in the most recent issue of Cook's Illustrated. The recipe emphasizes using fresh green beans, not frozen or canned even though it takes a lot more time to prep them, and a fresh mushroom sauce that adds a bright, enticing flavor in lieu of canned mushroom soup. Even CI couldn't do away with the canned french fried onions, but as Alanna points out, the topping can be reduced by half and still be very generous. And you won't feel as guilty for using something canned and fried, but will still keep everyone in the family happy with a perfect holiday side.
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11-03-2006 @1:21PM Lenka said... That sounds like a wonderful new take on the classic version! I wanted to mention there is an alternative to the usual canned french-fried onions, but readers outside of larger metropolitan areas may have to order by mail or online. Indian groceries often carry plastic packs of "crispy fried onions" (popular brands include 'SWAD' or 'RAJA') which I find have a fresher, spicier taste than the canned sort. More economical, too, as a 400gm (about 14 oz.) packet costs about $3 USD.
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11-03-2006 @5:46PM Susan said... I attempted something like this a few Christmases ago. I made a fresh green bean casserole with a from scratch cream sauce and used fried shallots in lieu of the french fried onions. Although my dinner guests said it was tasty, they were ultimately disappointed because it wasn't the sodium-laden version with canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and commercial french fried onions. So now I make the easy, dump, mix and bake one for the holidays.
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11-03-2006 @2:31PM Word Diggity said... I'm happy enough with the original recipe, thanks. Changing the nature of the ingredients (i.e. from preserved to fresh) would irretrievably alter the nature of the dish and its flavours & textures.
Still, I'll try (almost) anything once. I'm no Tony Bourdain, but then this isn't exactly cobra blood soup, either.
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11-03-2006 @2:36PM dragonet2 said... I made the traditional one last EXCEPT I used the lovely little fresh green beans I can buy at Costco, all trimmed and neat and uniform. Family loved it. And I thought it tasted it rather better than using canned or frozen beans. The Indian fried onions sound intriguing too. off to the market tomorrow!
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11-03-2006 @3:20PM Lynne said... "World's Best Green Bean Casserole?" Even spiffed up, it sounds awful to me. Just give me some nice, well-seasoned green beans, and leave all that other crap out.
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11-03-2006 @3:27PM Spitzmaus said... May I pose a perfectly polite question to you all? WHAT is the appeal of this dish, or for that matter, ANY respectable green vegetable smothered in an unctuous mushroom cream sauce(soup)and topped with those abominations called, loosely, fried onions?? I'll stick to lightly-steamed green beans or broccolini, sprinkled with lemon juice and cracked black pepper, thank you.
Now would you please pass the candied yams -- the ones WITHOUT MARSHMALLOWS!
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11-03-2006 @5:13PM Franz Hemingbeck said... Man oh man- people sure love to eat crap.
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11-04-2006 @12:23PM angelique said... Hmm. I love the idea of the fresh mushrooms and still crisp green beans. I might have to try this. I am so tired of feeling like the only person in the US who hasn't ever made this for a holiday. Our greenbeans are always boiled unto the brink of mush with bacon or ham. The casserole can't be any worse.
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11-03-2006 @6:07PM maggie said... Unfortunely, I let C Illus. subscription expire and can't get into their recipe site without one. Would like to try their version of GB Casserole; never could understand appeal of Campbell's version.
Hubby has an onion phobia, so last time I made a GB Casserole I used frozen beans [I do not LIKE canned GBs] as fresh were out of season and supermarket ones are not like those from our garden-- our frozen beans actually are closer in taste and commercial frozen are not bad. Then I made a cream sauce using the real thing,added mushrooms thatI also been sauted in butter [IT was a holiday!], sprinkled a little shredded white cheddar cheese over after the mixture was in the casserole, and topped it all with a good layer of dried bread crumbs, made mostly from HM whole grain bread, flavored with dried savory [The bean herb], dill, sweet marjoram, and I snuck in a little dried onion--don't think he noticed...I then poured the browned butter from the mushrooms over the crumb topping before baking. I'll never go back to fried Os again as this was much fresher tasting and nowhere near as salty, a consideration after one passes the big 6-0! Try it--you might like it. --maggie
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11-04-2006 @1:00AM Adriane said... I think a lot of people love foods such as green bean casserole and yams with marshmallows because it is soul food/comfort food; what they grew up with and love for more than simply what it tastes like.
Although not something I particularly enjoy, I wish the people who call this food "crap" and "awful" and tout their steamed veggies with a splash of lemon would climb down from their seemingly high horse and recall those food they (perhaps secretly) love from childhood that might not be the greatest and think how annoying it would be for everyone to be looking down on you for it.
Sheesh people...as foodies have an open mind: Most good food comes from the most humble beginnings.
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11-04-2006 @9:26AM Susan said... I recently came across a product in a local market that blows away the traditional canned fried onions and have been trying them on different dishes. Can't wait to top the green bean casserole with them. They are called Lars Imported (from Sweden) Crispy Onions and can be found online at: www.larsown.com
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11-04-2006 @8:15PM Adriane said... Susan- YES! I was thinking the same thing. Those Lars onions are amazingly good. Awesome with baked/stuffed potatos too...or with, well, pretty much everything. haha
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11-05-2006 @3:07AM jessica said... thank you adriane for comment #9. this post is not about what you like for thanksgiving. it's about the green bean casserole. if you don't like it, then don't read it and go through the trouble of commenting. it just brings unnecessary negativity to this wonderful website. you steamed veggies people with lemon just sound so arrogant... i'm glad i don't have to spend thanksgiving around you guys and i feel awfully terrible for your families.
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