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5 from 4 votes

Green Bean Casserole without Cream of Mushroom Soup

Green bean casserole made without cream of mushroom soup, using fresh green beans, mushrooms, and a simple homemade sauce.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 181kcal
Author: Adina

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs green beans Notes 1, 2
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 9 oz small mushrooms Note 3
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce optional and to taste
  • 5 tablespoons Parmesan freshly grated, divided, Note 4
  • 5 tablespoons Panko breadcrumbs
  • fine sea salt
  • ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/ 180°C.

Cook vegetables:

  • Blanch beans: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. In the meantime, trim and cut the green beans into 2,5 cm/1-inch pieces. Add salt to the water and then the beans. Blanch for 3-4 minutes until they lose their raw edge but are still firm. Drain and place them immediately in a bowl with ice water (Note 2).
    2 lbs green beans
  • Prepare vegetables: Wipe the mushrooms clean with kitchen towels (Note 5) and halve them. If larger, quarter them. Chop the onions.
    9 oz small mushrooms + 1 small onion
  • Cook: Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan, add onion and cook for about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until they turn golden, and all the released juices evaporate about 8-10 minutes. Set aside. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper.
    1 tablespoon olive oil

White sauce:

  • Mix: Pour the milk into a saucepan and add the flour gradually while whisking all the time.
    1 cup milk + 2 tablespoons flour
  • Cook while whisking continuously until the sauce thickens; it will happen fast. Season with salt, pepper, and soy sauce if used. Stir in 3 tablespoons of grated cheese. Add a splash of extra milk if the sauce seems too thick.
    fine sea salt + ground black pepper + 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce + 3 tablespoon from 5 tablespoons Parmesan

Casserole:

  • Mix: Add vegetables to the sauce (or pour the sauce over the veggies) and mix well. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper. Lightly oil a suitable casserole dish and pour in the mixture.
  • Top: Combine Panko and remaining grated cheese in a small bowl. Top the casserole with this mixture.
    5 tablespoons Panko breadcrumbs + remaining cheese (2 Tbsp)
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the Panko is golden, about 35-40 minutes.

Notes

  1. Fresh green beans are the best choice. Frozen are fine as well. Don't use canned green beans.
  2. Ice water: Placing the blanched beans into a bowl of ice water ensures that they remain crisp and of a beautiful, intense green color.
  3. Mushroom choice: White button or cremini mushrooms.
  4. For a vegetarian dish, replace Parmesan with vegetarian hard cheese. You can use Cheddar or Swiss cheese instead.
  5. Don't wash the mushrooms; they will soak up the water and become soggy. Instead, clean them thoroughly with kitchen paper to remove all traces of dirt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the casserole | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 312mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g