Another holiday dish that I came across recently was the green bean casserole where the green beans are in a cream of mushroom sauce and topped with a french fried onion topping. I had really enjoyed it the first time that I had made it and I was looking forward to making it again. Since I had started the “switching it up” theme with the pumpkin sweet potato casserole I thought that I would try a broccoli green bean casserole. The cream of mushroom sauce is my favorite part of this recipe and this time I thought that I would try adding a bit of extra flavour to it with some fresh thyme and a splash of sherry.
The last time that I made the green bean casserole I made everything from scratch but this time I decided to save time and use the canned french fried onions. The broccoli casserole tasted great! It did however seem a bit dry… Even looking at the picture it looks too dry for supposedly being in a cream of mushroom sauce. I realize now that I accidentally only used half of the stock and cream that the recipe called for. Given that I did not realize my error until now and that I really enjoyed both the casserole and its leftovers it turned out pretty good anyways. I will definitely be making this again and I will be playing around with the amount of liquid in the cream of mushroom sauce. (Isn’t it fun testing different versions of your favorite recipes trying to get them just right?)
Broccoli Casserole
ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli (trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 8 ounce package crimini mushrooms (quartered)
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 teaspoon thyme (chopped)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon dry sherry
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 slice whole grain bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 handful french fried onions
- 1 handful almond slivers (toasted)
directions
- Steam the broccoli until just tender.
- Chill the broccoli in ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Melt the butter in a pan.
- Add the mushrooms, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and saute until the mushrooms start to release their moisture, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour and cook for a minute.
- Add the chicken stock and heavy cream and simmer until it thickens, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the broccoli.
- Pour the mixture into an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- Pulse the bread, butter, salt and pepper in a food processor to combine.
- Stir in the onions and almonds.
- Pour the onion and almond mixture over the broccoli mixture.
- Bake in a preheated 400F/200C oven for 15 minutes.
that looks SO good. making it!!
Wait Kevin, you RECENTLY came across the green bean casserole recipe? I’m having a hard time getting my mind around that since we’ve been eating in my family for over half a century.
The canned onions are good for nostalgia. I made fresh cranberry sauce one year for Thanksgiving and everyone was like, hey, where’s the canned cranberry jelly sauce we have every year?
Your idea of sherry and thyme is an excellent addition I think. You were definitely able to take that old “gloppy” recipe and give it some elegance! I think I would prefer your less saucy version.
As there’s no thanksgiving in this country I’ve never seen a real green bean casserole before, but I think I’d prefer your version a whole lot more! 🙂
I can’t digest broccoli anymore, but I totally love it. 🙁 This is a dish I might sacrifice the wellbeing of my health though for!
I’ve never even heard of canned french fried onions *shakes head sadly*, but I do like my veg so I’m loving this! I often bake my brocolli in a bechamel sauce, but I think mushrooms would be a great addition. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Kevin
Did you use dry sherry or sweet sherry. Also what do you mean by process the bread, butter, salt and pepper.
with broccoli? sounds great!
If even you forgot half the stock/cream this photo looks really delicious – healthy and satisfying.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend, Kevin!!
I just bought a casserole cookbook, because I didn’t grow up in a casserole culture and I think it’s time I learned to make a few really good ones. This will definitely go on my list.
Anonymous: Sorry for the confusion, it was a dry sherry and I meant pulse in a food processor.
I like things on the dryish side, that looks really yummy Kevin!
Kevin, I felt like I was sitting at your Thanksgiving table! I am stuffed and a very happy camper!
casserole cooking is something I wanna try out next 😉 thanks for the inspiration!
I love broccoli with mushrooms – I bet this will be sensational when it’s a bit creamier!
Oh, this sounds fantastic.
this looks delicious
Green bean casserole! I have never tried it! I like the idea of adding broccoli into it, it is very beneficial to one’s health!
The pic looks delicious! Good old green bean casserole… childhood holidays in a ceramic dish 🙂 I love broccoli – this seems a more contemporary (and less 1950s housewife) approach.
Thanksgiving at my house is going to be all about Kevin… 🙂
I heard and seen green bean casserole, but never made it and tasted before. I would try to make it for thanksgiving, both the green bean and the broccoli!
I’ve certainly enjoyed my share of green bean casseroles over the years. I think using broccoli is a great idea! It looks delicious!
A great cassrrole! Broccoli is so flavorful and versatile!
Cheers,
Rosa
You are very, very clever. Love the swap here.
Hi Kevin,
I see some nice greek cooking in your blog! Nice light in the photos too.
what a perfect side dish… 🙂
LOVE your take on the casserole dish, by using broccoli – yum!!
Your casserole looks great – and the mushroom sauce must add some lovely extra flavor to the dish!
Delicious! I’m a big broccoli fan.
oh this is really creative. i would never think of doing this..thanks for sharing!
This look so nice Kevin!! xGloria
I like a good brocooli casserole and this one is a dandy. Enjoying your pictures of Greece, thanks for sharing, makes me want to go there soon!!
Hi hi i am glad to know that acccidents happens to other peaople too.
Things like this always happens to me. Sometimes i forget side dishes in the kitchen and half way to the meal suddenly i remember them.
Today there was no side dish ( didn’t had time to make) so my daughter was like, is there a side dish, i am just asking before you say i forgot.
I have never made brocoli like this.
Will try next time
What a fantastic combination of flavours. Anything with mushrooms gets my attention.
That is quite the Thanksgiving meal, Kevin!! I love broccoli casserole, but haven’t had it in ages.
Another great twist on a classic!
Kevin – keep these holiday recipes coming!
Great dish, this looks really good.
I do like broccoli: I could eat them everyday!
Broccoli used to be one of my favourite vegetables, but these days I seem to have gone off it a bit. Your casserole looks like it might make me change my mind again though.
Ooh that looks good. I love anything involving broccoli 🙂
Sues
I love green bean casserole so this sounds like a great change of pace.
I don’t like green beans…but a broccoli casserole sounds really good..even dry!
Must have been quite the Thanksgiving at Kevin’s house! But I’m with Lori Lynn in being amazed that you only recently discovered green bean casserole, since it’s been on our tables all my life!
Ohhhh that looks like Heaven. YUMMM! Thanks for the recipes!
~Liz
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Great timing! I’m starting to think about holiday menus, so I’ve really enjoyed your recent posts (all your posts are enjoyable!). This sounds so clever and a notch or two above the average ol’ casserole. It certainly looks pretty on a plate, too.
Lovely crunchy topping! I wouldn’t need anything else more as a meal!
This is one I would really enjoy Kevin! I do so love mushrooms 🙂
That sounds like a great variation on the green bean casserole, which, incidentally, I had never eaten until moving to the States. Needless to say, I’m a convert. 🙂
That is a great idea and it looks scrumptious! I got a growl in my belly when I saw that! Really awesome!
Mmm I like the textures you have going over there.
Oh yum that broccoli casserole looks so good. Love the photo! I wish I had had this at my Thanksgiving dinner.
Oh, that looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one out.
Sometimes I wish Americans could celebrate Thanksgiving in October just so we could start eating all of these dishes sooner! I love the idea of making the green bean casserole with broccoli – and the sherry flavor would be great.
This is a great idea for a holiday dish. Great ingredients, this is something I would enjoy for sure.
I’ll have to try this version this year! Looks great!
“canned French fried onions”?? Never heard of them and am tryign to wrap my head around what they might be… Other than that, the recipe sounds great as I love broccoli!