Green Bean Casserole

[lorilei]

Are you looking for a low-fat alternative to the mushroom soup recipe?

If so, why not just lighten the traditional recipe a bit?
Try a lower fat mushroom soup, substitute another crispy coating for the fried onions, and use skim milk...

I'm sure we could all help with suggestions if you need them.

[Peggy]

Kathleen,

I wanted to share with you my favorite Cooking Light green beans recipe. It appeared in the Nov/Dec 1996 issue so I will post it here in case you don't have it available. It is yummy and very easy!!

Green Beans with Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette

2 lbs green beans
2 bacon slices
1/4 cup minced shallots
3 T coarsely chopped almonds (I have also used walnuts)
2 T brown sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Cook green beans in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain beans well and set aside.

Cook bacon is a small skillet over medium high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet. Crumble and set aside. Add shallots to bacon fat in skillet and saute 1 minute. Add almonds and saute 1 minute. Remove and cool. Add sugar and vinegar; stir until sugar dissolves. Add crumbled bacon to green bean mixture.

Pour vinaigrette over beans, tossing gently to coat.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup)

Calories 75, Protein 3.4gm, Fat 2.6gm, Carb 11.8gm, Fiber 2.8gm, Chol 0mg, Iron 1.4mg, Sodium 50mg, Calc 54mg

Hope you like it!

Peggy

[Deanna]

KD, I agree with Lorilei...if what you are looking for is a "lightened" version of a recipe you already have, then what you should do is look at each ingredient and make the appropriate substitution. Pretty simple! If your recipe is the same as the one I've used in the past, all it has is green beans, mushroom soup, milk, salt, pepper and fried onion rings. That ought to be a snap to lighten!

Or are you saying you want an entirely different "dish" (casserole) that is not simply green beans sauteed with seasonings, but with some other "creamy" type ingredients? Guess I'm not much help; I don't really understand the question so I'll just hush for now... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Deanna (edited 07-21-2000).]

[KDHeuer]

I bought a bunch of fresh green beans at my local farmer's market this week, and I'm looking for a good way to use them. My husband requested a green bean casserole, but all I have is the high-fat holiday version. Anyone have a low-fat version?

Of course, I'm open to other ideas too. I've made the Lemon Basil Bean Bowl from a couple issues back, and liked it a lot. But we made it a little too often, so we're burned out.

Thanks in advance,

Kathleen

[Deanna]

We had this discussion not too long ago...there was a lot of enthusiasm for blanching, then sauteeing with various ingredients (garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, etc.) Try to do a search on green beans, or maybe something relatively obscure like "blanch" and see what comes up. There were some great ideas!

[Susan]

Here's the link to the previous green bean discussion: http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000002/HTML/20000717-1-000155.html

~~Susan~~

[KDHeuer]

Thanks, guys...missed that thread earlier. Lots of good ideas!

I'd still love a low-fat alternative to the traditional green bean casserole, though...

K.

[KDHeuer]

Sorry for the confusion...guess I wasn't really specific enough in my request. I guess I was looking for a light version of the traditional grean bean casserole, but with a "twist." You know, the same, only different! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I ended up making the grean bean stew listed in the thread that Susan posted. It was pretty fabulous...definitely a keeper.

Thanks again to all who replied...

Kathleen