Thanksgiving Sides ~ Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Prep Time: 1 hour Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours Servings: 8 to 12
Ingredients
1 pound (450g) shallots, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick on a mandoline
2 cups (480ml) canola oil
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds (675g) white button mushrooms, rinsed and spun dry in a salad spinner
2 teaspoons (10ml) soy sauce
2 teaspoons (10ml) lemon juice from 1 lemon
2 cups (480ml) low-sodium store-bought or homemade chicken stock
1 1/2 cups (360ml) heavy cream
2 tablespoons (30g) butter
2 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated on a Microplane grater
1/4 cup (30g) flour
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds (900g) green beans, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch segments
Directions
1. Combine shallots and oil in a wok or medium nonstick saucepan. Shallots should barely stick out above level of oil. Place over high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are completely soft, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with 6 layers of paper towels. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until shallots are light golden brown, about 8 minutes. Immediately strain through a fine-mesh strainer set in a heatproof bowl or saucepan. Set shallot oil aside. You should have about 2 cups fried shallots.
2. Transfer fried shallots to paper towels. Lift up one end of top paper towel and roll shallots off onto second. Blot with first towel to absorb excess oil. Repeat 4 more times, transferring shallots from one paper towel to the next, until only one paper towel remains. Season shallots well with salt. Allow to cool completely, about 45 minutes. Once they have cooled, transfer shallots to a sealed airtight container. Shallots can be made up to 1 month in advance.
3. Smash mushrooms under bottom of large skillet until broken into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces. Roughly chop into pieces approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size. Set aside. Combine soy sauce, lemon juice, chicken stock, and heavy cream in a 1-quart liquid measure or medium bowl.
4. Add 2 tablespoons (30ml) reserved shallot oil (save remainder in an airtight container for another use) plus butter to a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Heat over high heat until butter is melted and foaming subsides. Add mushrooms to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and mushrooms begin to sizzle, 6 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until light golden blond, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, add stock/cream mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until mixture achieves a texture between that of pancake batter and heavy cream, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Bring 1 gallon (3.8L) water and 1/4 cup (48g) kosher salt to a boil over high heat. Fill a large bowl with 1 quart ice cubes and 2 quarts (1.7L) water. Add green beans to water and boil until tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes. Drain through a colander set over the sink and immediately transfer to ice water until completely cooled. Drain green beans and set aside.
6. Combine green beans, mushroom sauce, and 1 cup fried shallots. Transfer to a 9- by 13-inch rectangular baking dish or a 10- by 14-inch oval baking dish. Bake until hot and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with remaining cup fried shallots and serve.
Notes
You can use canned fried onions or shallots instead of making your own in steps 1 and 2. For better results, look for fried shallots in a Thai or Vietnamese market—but French's will do just fine if that's what you prefer. Slice the shallots on a plastic mandoline (like a Benriner) to get even results. The oil used to fry the shallots can be saved in an airtight container, away from the light, for up to three months. Use it for stir-fries or in salad dressings.
To make ahead: Fried shallots can be made up to a month in advance. Mushroom sauce can be made up to four days in advance. Assembled casserole can be made and stored up to two days in the refrigerator. To complete, cover with foil and heat in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven until hot, about 30 minutes. Uncover and cook until bubbly, about 10 minutes longer. Top with one cup shallots and serve.
