Easy Make Ahead Green Bean Casserole Food

EASY MAKE-AHEAD GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Spray a shallow 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray.
• Place beans in a large pot and halfway cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Cook until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in sour cream, stirring constantly, cooking until smooth and thickened. Mix in cooked beans, then pour into the prepared casserole. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove casserole from the refrigerator and sprinkle Cheddar cheese over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm.

MAKE-AHEAD GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Spray a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Mince shallots until you have 3 tablespoons; slice remaining shallots into 1/8-inch rounds. Set both aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook until tender but still crisp, about 4 minutes. Drain, rinse, and pat dry; set aside.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add minced shallots and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons flour, then slowly add half-and-half, broth, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil while stirring.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in green beans and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, cover, and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight, or until ready to bake.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove casserole from the refrigerator and bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
• While the casserole is baking, dredge shallot rings in remaining flour until evenly coated.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Lower shallots carefully into the hot oil, working in batches if necessary. Fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain on paper towels.
• Remove casserole from the oven and top with fried shallots.

MAKE-AHEAD FRESH GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE (OAMC)

Steps:

• SAUCE: In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter on medium heat til melted, add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring often, until the mushrooms are cooked and the mushroom liquid has evaporated.
• Add the garlic and thyme and cook for about a minute. .
• Sprinkle the mushrooms with flour and stir in as best you can. A tablespoon at a time, stir in the chicken stock, letting each tablespoon become absorbed before adding another. (This will take several minutes, be patient or you'll risk a lumpy mess.).
• Stir in the wine and cream, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes, stir in the sherry. .
• Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper, if needed. (It should be slightly salty and slightly peppery since the beans themselves are unseasoned.).
• BEANS While the sauce cooks, toss the RAW beans and cornstarch well, transfer to 9x13 dish lined with foil and sprayed or smaller tins.
• Pour hot mushroom sauce over top. Gently press beans into the sauce so that all the beans are submerged. Cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap, making sure there's no air between the beans and the plastic. Wrap with foil. Freeze. Do NOT thaw before baking.
• TOPPING No more than a day before, mix the panko, butter, salt and pepper in a skillet. On medium heat, let the crumbs brown, stirring often, being careful not to burn. Stir in the fried onions.
• BAKING Preheat oven to 400°F IMPORTANT: remove plastic wrap from casserole, then replace the foil. Bake for 30 minutes, stir, leave the foil off and bake for another 45 to 50 minutes. (Mine are done in 75 minutes but that might be b/c container is small--original recipe says total of 90 minutes.) Spread topping over the casserole, bake for another 10 minutes until golden.