Best-ever Green Beans by Alton Brown

This recipe comes from Alton Brown of the Food Network Good Eats fame. Actually, if you call it a recipe, he will quickly correct you and let you know what you’re really dealing with is an application. Recipe or application–it’s all good eats.

Best-Ever Green Bean Casserole

4 to 6 Servings

FOR THE TOPPING

• 2 medium onions thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Japanese bread crumbs a.k.a. panko
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE BEANS AND SAUCE

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 pound fresh green beans rinsed, trimmed, and halved
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 12 ounces button mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg freshly ground
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

Procedure

1. Heat the oven to 475F.
2. Make the topping: Combine the onions, flour, panko, and salt in a large bowl and toss to combine. Coat a half sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and evenly spread the onions in the pan. Bake on the middle rack of the oven until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes, tossing the onions 2 or 3 times during cooking. Set aside until ready to use. Turn the oven temperature down to 400F.
3. While the onions are cooking, make the beans and sauce: Bring 1 gallon water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil in an 8-quart saucepan. Add the beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
4. Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to release some of their liquid, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the nutmeg and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in one-quarter of the onions and all of the beans. Top with the remaining onions. Bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Serve immediately.