Nostalgic creamy side with tender green beans, savory mushrooms, and crispy fried onions for a comforting dish.
# Components:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces, or frozen cut green beans thawed and drained
→ Sauce Base
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 9 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
→ Topping
13 - 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions, store-bought or homemade
# Directions:
01 - Set oven temperature to 350°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add green beans, and cook for 5 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking; set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook 5-6 minutes until browned. Add onion and garlic; sauté 2-3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute while stirring. Gradually whisk in milk, cream, and vegetable broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using.
05 - Add the drained green beans to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce.
06 - Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle half of the crispy fried onions evenly over the top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbling.
08 - Remove from oven, add remaining fried onions, then bake an additional 5-7 minutes until topping is golden and crisp.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
