Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Toss the panko with the 2 tablespoons of melted topping butter. Boil 4 quarts of water with 2 tablespoons of salt, then cook the beans for 4 minutes, until bright green and crisp tender. Move them to the ice bath for 3 minutes, drain, and pat dry with a towel.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and the oil in a skillet over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms in a single layer and cook 6 to 8 minutes without crowding, stirring only twice, until deep golden and the liquid has cooked off. Do not salt them yet.
- Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of sauce butter, the shallot, garlic, thyme, and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, until it smells nutty and no dry flour remains.
- Whisk in the broth, then the milk and cream, a little at a time, until smooth. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, then stir in the nutmeg, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Fold the dry blanched beans into the sauce until every piece is coated, then pour the mixture into the baking dish. The sauce should look thick and creamy, not runny.
- Bake uncovered at 375°F for 20 minutes, until the edges bubble. Scatter 1 cup of the fried onions and the buttered panko over the top, and bake 10 more minutes, until the topping is deep golden.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes so the sauce settles. Sprinkle with the remaining fried onions and parsley, and serve hot.
Blanch the beans for only 4 minutes, shock them in ice water, and add the topping for the last 10 minutes; overcooked beans turn gray, and early topping turns soggy.
Notes
- Pat the beans dry so the sauce stays thick.
- Brown the mushrooms before adding any salt.
- Keep the toppings dry until baking.
