Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Fresh Green Bean Casserole
(Gluten and Dairy Free, Vegan optional)

Part of our Healthier Holiday’s series, this popular side dish just got a healthier makeover. Give this recipe a try for your holiday table this year! This fresh green bean casserole is gluten free, dairy free and vegan optional.

***To make this dish even healthier, you can omit the thickening agent for the mushroom gravy, and the cooking spray when making the french onions. These are used for texturizing the dish to emulate how traditional green bean casseroles are done.

Ingredients

French ‘Friend’ Onions

• 1 Large Sweet Onion, sliced
• ¼ cup of Dairy Alternative Milk (Coconut or Almond Prefered)
• ¼-⅓ cup of Medium Coarse Cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• Cooking Spray

Casserole

• 1 pound of Fresh Green Beans, washed, trimmed, halved, blanched (See notes for blanching instructions)
• 8 oz Baby Bella Mushrooms, washed and sliced or quartered
• ¾ Cup of Chicken or Vegetable Broth
• 1 ¼ cup of Dairy Alternative, unsweetened and unflavored (Coconut or Almond Preferred)
• 2 Cloves of Minced Garlic (or teaspoon of dried)
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch (or other gluten free thickening agent: See notes)

Cooking Instructions

Cooking French “Fried” Onions

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Lightly spray with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix the cornmeal and spices until well combined.
3. After slicing onions, toss them in the dairy alternative milk and let soak for 10 minutes.Then coat them with the cornmeal mixture to coat evenly. Transfer to the baking sheet.
4. Lightly spray the top of the onions with cooking spray to ensure even browning.
5. Bake onions until golden brown, about 25 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking process. (See Notes for Air Fryer Instructions)

Cooking Green Bean Casserole

1. Set oven temperature to 400 degrees F. In an ovenproof skillet (cast iron preferred), on medium-high heat saute mushrooms and garlic in olive oil until the mushrooms start to give off some of their moisture, about 5 minutes.
2. Sprinkle cornstarch over the mushrooms and stir until well combined. Add the chicken/vegetable broth, salt and pepper, then simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Decrease the heat to medium low and add the dairy alternative. Cook until mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add ¼ of the french onions and all the green beans to the gravy. Stir until well combined, then top the mixture with the remaining onions and bake for 10-15 minutes until bubbly.

Notes

Thickener alternatives: You may use other thickening agents like guar gum if you wish. Just follow the instructions on the packaging to determine how much to use since every agent acts differently.

French Onion Air Fryer Instructions: Prepare onions like before, heat air fryer up to 360F, spray the basket and add onions. Cook for about 20 Minutes, shaking the basket every few minutes or so. Use fat free cooking spray to help with crisping.

How to Blanch Green Beans: Using a large pot, bring a gallon of water to a boil with a tablespoon of salt. Add Green Beans and blanch them for 5 minutes. Drain immediately and toss them with a handful of ice to stop the cooking process.