A holiday favorite with less fat and more flavor
Using fresh ingredients instead of the traditional can of soup, this recipe from EatingWell.com offers extra flavor that's worth the effort.

Green Bean Casserole
Makes 6 servings

Onion topping:

  • ½ teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup fresh breadcrumbs

Sauce & green beans:

  • 2 cups skim milk
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Pinch grated nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • ½ pound mushrooms, trimmed and sliced (3 cups)
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 9-ounce package frozen green beans, thawed (2 cups)

For onion topping:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add sliced onion and cook until very tender and golden, about 30 minutes. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and toast, stirring once, until lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

For sauce:
Combine milk, peppercorns, bay leaf and nutmeg in a medium saucepan and heat over low until steaming. Remove from heat, let stand for 5 minutes and strain into a measuring cup. (Discard peppercorns and bay leaf.) Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Slowly pour in previously heated milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream, salt and pepper.

To assemble:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spread thawed green beans evenly over the bottom of a shallow 2-quart baking dish and cover with sauce. Toss onions and breadcrumbs in a small bowl and spread over the beans. Bake until bubbling, 15 to 25 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Per serving: 130 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrate; 7 g protein; 3 g fiber; 491 mg sodium; 377 mg potassium.