Creamy Green Bean Casserole

With the holiday season approaching, this delicious and creamy green bean casserole is destined to impress your family and friends. It's effortless to prepare, ensuring you won't be stuck in the kitchen for hours. The secret ingredient? Creamy Boursin cheese! It adds a rich flavor that elevates the classic casserole to a whole new level, making it an irresistible side dish at any festive gathering.

Ingredients

🥦 1 lb green beans (washed, trimmed, and cut in half)
🧈 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
🧅 2 shallots, diced (or 1 large onion)
🧄 5 cloves garlic, minced
🧂 1/2 teaspoon salt
🌶️ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
🌿 1/2 teaspoon thyme
🌶️ 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
🌾 2 tablespoons flour
🥛 1.5 cups heavy cream
🥛 1 cup milk
🧀 1 block Boursin cheese (garlic and fine herbs)
🧀 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
🧅 2.5 cups crispy fried onions

Instructions

1- Preheat and Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2- Blanching the Green Beans:

Add the prepared green beans and blanch them for 3 minutes.
After blanching, drain and immediately submerge the beans in a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process.
Drain again and set aside.

3- Cooking Aromatics:

In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add the diced shallots and minced garlic, then cook for about 2 minutes.
Stir in the salt, black pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper.

4- Thickening the Sauce:

Sprinkle the flour over the shallots and garlic, stirring to combine.
Cook for an additional minute.
Reduce the heat to medium-low.

5- Creating the Cheese Sauce:

Pour in the heavy cream and milk, and whisk the mixture until well combined.
Add the Boursin cheese, breaking it up with a spoon before whisking it until smooth.
Allow the mixture to simmer for about 2 minutes until slightly thickened.

6- Final Touch on Cheese Sauce:

Turn off the heat and mix in the Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.

7- Combining and Baking:

Combine the cheese sauce with the green beans and 1 cup of crispy fried onions.
Transfer the mixture into a prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining fried onions.

8- Baking the Casserole:

Bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve warm and enjoy!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories per serving: Approximately 400
Proteins per serving: 12g
Fats per serving: 28g
Carbohydrates per serving: 22g
Equipment: Large pot, skillet, whisk, large bowl, baking dish