Green Bean Casserole Revamped

No Comments | Written on November 15, 2011 at 5:00 pm, by Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine

courtesty of Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine

Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey and stuffing. For me, green beans are where it’s at. I love a creamy and rich traditional green-bean casserole, but it’s fun to whip up new takes on this classic dish that highlight the green beans and the mushrooms while keeping it light and healthy. They’re great complements to the heavier turkey and stuffing. Plus, it’s easier to achieve perfectly cooked green beans (I like them with a slight crunch) when you’re not baking them in a casserole, where they can turn out mushy if overcooked.

I’m a real fan of this riff on the traditional, a Green Bean Bake Revisited. Made with soy sauce, portobello mushrooms, and goat cheese, it’s a delicious combination that has distinct sweet, creamy notes that still let the green beans shine.

For a different but equally tasty take on the veggies, this Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon recipe is a keeper. Sweet and salty, it has a bit of tanginess thrown in with the addition of apple-cider vinegar.

More bacon? That’s a yes in my book. This elegant Green Beans with Crispy Pancetta, Mushrooms, and Shallots caught my eye because it has the bacon AND the mushrooms, and it’s loaded with flavor from Dijon mustard and mellow sage leaves.

If space in the oven is at a premium, try Green Beans with Creamy Garlic Dressing, a salad that can be served at room temperature (making it easy to juggle other dishes that have to be served warm).

Let me know what some of your Thanksgiving favorites are this year, in the comment section below!