There is no secret, I am a black woman from a black family that loves Green Bean Casserole. According to "popular" opinion, my family is not "black norm". Guess what? Like me, my family has never been popular. LoL, Our favorite recipe is made by my mother. Muh Diva made it one year in the 90s. We loved it & it is a beloved Thanksgiving star on our table. Her version has a family inside joke of a mistake in it and that's why I won't ever share it. I don't feel like telling the story. I just let greatness be Great. LoL
I will say if you have had the dish at Highland Park Cafeteria(Not A Sponsor) in Dallas, then you came very close to tasting my mother's recipe.
And since she knows I love Green Bean Casserole, the wonderful owner & consultant of Diet Solutions(
FB Page) asked me to try a lightened version she saw me talked about on social media before the holidays. As many recipes & pictures that Diet Solutions has let me use, of course, I would review a recipe for them. Will this be a good dish? Will the absent calories be missed? Should this version be served on Thanksgiving?
Skillet Green Bean Casserole
- 1 pound green beans (fresh or frozen)
- 2 (1-oz.) slices whole-wheat bread(We used toasted white wheat)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh garlic
- 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese (about 6 Tbsp.), grated and divided
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
- 4 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
- 1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Preheat broiler to high.
- Cook beans in a large saucepan filled with boiling water 3 minutes or until crisp-tender.
- Plunge beans into ice water; drain well.
- Place bread in a food processor; pulse until coarse crumbs form.
- Stir in parsley, 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons cheese.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium.
- Add onion and mushrooms; sauté 8 minutes.
- Mix cornstarch, stock, and milk together. Stir in cornstarch mixture.
- Bring to a simmer; cook 3 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining 4 tablespoons cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add beans to pan; toss to coat.
- Sprinkle evenly with breadcrumb mixture.
- Broil 2 minutes.
- Rest for 5 minutes
- Serve after resting
Skillet Green Bean Casserole is a delicious dish. It stands well with the beloved recipes we know. Because of green beans, onions, & nutmeg, it's sweeter taste gets to shine a bit. Having 41 calories less than most traditional recipes, your "health conscience" loved one might hug you for making this. It also is lower in sodium because of none of the ingredients from a can. I think if you pair this good & hearty casserole with a simple garden salad, you would have a nice balanced meatless meal. My household & I had it with that salad & some balsamic baked chicken. It was a hit. Because of its ease for us, it has been added to our regular recipes.
Should one make it for Thanksgiving? The politically correct answer is Yes. Whatever the Lord blesses you to have on the table that day belong. LoL But okay in my humblest opinion, unless you are serving less than 7 or 8 people, I say No. I don't recommend mass producing this casserole. Keep it simple & serve it hot.
No matter what you have on your table, remember those who are less fortunate and be grateful for whatever you have. I tell people all the time if material things are how you define the word Blessed, then your dictionary is wrong. It's my whole-hearted belief & I hope it is yours.
Be Thankful! Be Joyful! Be Blessed!
As Always Talking o You In Adult Terms
