Outstanding Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is a dish that I instantly associate with big holiday feasts. For me, it is a must have on my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables. Unfortunately, big holiday gatherings can sometimes be a point of contention for folks adhering to a plant-based diet. It has been a mission of mine to recreate family holiday favorites so everyone at the table can enjoy.

A holiday classic with a twist.

Green Bean Casserole has always been a popular side dish for my family. However, growing up, we enjoyed a more traditional version with canned green beans, and cream of mushroom soup. This updated version hearkens back to to those childhood memories but uses fresh green beans, and skips that old can of cream of mushroom soup filled with dairy, preservatives, and MSG. I even jazzed this recipe up a bit more with the addition of vegan pork rinds as a topping, but if you can’t find them in your grocery, the traditional french-fried onions work beautifully in this recipe. This is a delicious and decadent version of green bean casserole that you can feel good about serving to your loved ones!

How to make this casserole.

Once you have cleaned and trimmed the green beans, cook them in boiling water for 5-7 minutes; then drain in a colander. At that point, it is important to place the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. This will keep their bright green color and crisp bite.

You will then melt butter in a large pan and add the shallots and garlic, and cook until softened; about 3-5 minutes. Next, add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

The next step is to create a roux; which is basically just mixture of fat (in this case butter), and flour. This combination makes a thick sauce for the casserole base. Remove from the heat and stir in the green beans. Once the green bean mixture is ready, transfer the mixture to the prepared 9×13 pan; top with the crispy fried onions or crushed vegan pork rinds, and bake until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.

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Outstanding Green Bean Casserole

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Sides – Holiday

By Amy – Serves: 8-10

Prep Time: 15 minutes – Cooking Time: 45 minutes – Total Time: 1 hour

A clean, homemade version of a family favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs fresh green beans, ends trimmed & cut into pieces 1”-2” in length
• 3 tbsp plant-based butter
• 1 med shallot, finely sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cup mushrooms, small dice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 2 cups vegan pork rinds (crushed by hand), or store-bought crisp fried onions

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 pan.

2

In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and boil for 3-5 minutes. Drain in a colander and then place the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.

3

Melt butter in a large pan on medium high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4

Sprinkle in the flour and stir, cook for about 1 minute. Slowly add the veggie broth while continuously stirring.

5

Next, stir in the oat milk. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes.

6

Remove from the heat and stir in the green beans. Transfer the mixture to the prepared 9x13 pan.

7

Top with the crushed vegan pork rinds or crispy fried onions and bake until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Canned green beans can also be used in this recipe. Instead of cooking the beans, just rinse and drain them.