Gourmet Green Bean Casserole with Applewood Bacon and Crispy Shallots
Elevate your Thanksgiving feast with this refined green bean casserole, featuring tender French haricots vert, smoky applewood bacon, and crispy shallots for a delightful crunch. Inspired by Chef Paul Player's signature dish from Gaylord Palms Resort, this savory side is bound to impress your guests. The rich combination of veal stock and red wine creates a luscious sauce that envelops the beans and vegetables, while the homemade crispy shallots add an irresistible finishing touch. Perfect for gatherings, this casserole brings a gourmet flair to a beloved classic.
4
Servings
245
Calories
19
Ingredients
Ingredients
French haricots vert
1 lb (trimmed)
Applewood-smoked bacon
4 ounces (diced)
Carrot
1 cup (diced)
Sweet onion
1 cup (diced)
Celery
1 cup (diced)
Garlic
2 teaspoons (chopped)
Veal stock
2 cups (prepared)
Dry red wine
1 cup (prepared)
Flour
1 tablespoon (for sauce)
Unsalted butter
2 tablespoons (softened)
Freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon (freshly grated)
Salt
to taste (season as needed)
Pepper
to taste (season as needed)
Shallots
2 large (thinly sliced)
Flour
1 cup (for dredging)
Old Bay Seasoning
1 tablespoon (for dredging)
Paprika
1 teaspoon (for dredging)
Cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon (for dredging)
Salt and pepper
to taste (for seasoning shallots)
Instructions
1
1. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, cook the diced applewood bacon until it begins to crisp and is halfway cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
2
2. Add the diced carrots, sweet onions, celery, and chopped garlic to the pan. Sauté these vegetables until they are golden brown and tender, approximately 7-10 minutes.
3
3. Pour in the veal stock and dry red wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any flavorful browned bits. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and allow it to reduce by half, about 10-15 minutes.
4
4. Once reduced, sift in the flour while stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
5
5. Stir in the haricots vert and allow the mixture to simmer until the sauce thickens and the green beans are crisp-tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
6
6. Gradually add the softened butter to the mixture, stirring until fully incorporated. Season with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
7
7. Transfer the mixture to a large casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the homemade crispy shallots.
8
8. For the crispy shallots, preheat a deep fryer to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Thinly slice the shallots on a bias into matchstick pieces.
9
9. In a medium bowl, combine flour, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Dredge the shallot sticks in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
10
10. Shake off excess flour and carefully place the shallots into the deep fryer. Cook the shallots until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
11
11. Remove the crispy shallots and drain on paper towels, seasoning with salt and pepper while they are still warm.
12
12. Serve the green bean casserole hot, garnished with the crispy shallots.
Nutrition Information
12
Fat
17.5
Carbs
14
Protein
3
Fiber
2.5
Sugar
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main dish in this recipe?
The main dish is Gourmet Green Bean Casserole with Applewood Bacon and Crispy Shallots, a refined version of the classic holiday side.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe is designed to yield 4 servings.
What are the primary green beans used?
The recipe uses 1 lb of trimmed French haricots vert.
What type of bacon is recommended?
Applewood-smoked bacon is used for its smoky flavor profile.
How do I prepare the vegetables for the base?
You should dice 1 cup each of carrots, sweet onions, and celery, and chop 2 teaspoons of garlic.
What is the base liquid for the sauce?
The sauce is created using 2 cups of prepared veal stock and 1 cup of dry red wine.
How much should the liquid reduction be?
The mixture of veal stock and red wine should be reduced by half.
How is the sauce thickened?
The sauce is thickened by sifting in 1 tablespoon of flour and stirring until smooth.
What special spice is added for depth of flavor?
1/4 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg is added to the mixture.
How is the butter incorporated?
Two tablespoons of softened unsalted butter are gradually stirred in until fully incorporated.
What is the topping for this casserole?
The casserole is topped with homemade crispy fried shallots.
What temperature should the oil be for frying shallots?
The deep fryer should be preheated to 275 degrees Fahrenheit (135 degrees Celsius).
How should the shallots be cut?
The shallots should be thinly sliced on a bias into matchstick pieces.
What is in the flour dredge for the shallots?
The dredge consists of 1 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
How long do the shallots need to fry?
The shallots should be fried for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
How many calories are in one serving?
There are 245 calories per serving.
What is the fat content per serving?
Each serving contains 12 grams of fat.
How much protein is in this dish?
There are 14 grams of protein per serving.
What is the carbohydrate count?
The dish contains 17.5 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much fiber and sugar are in the recipe?
Each serving has 3 grams of fiber and 2.5 grams of sugar.
Who is the chef inspiration for this dish?
This recipe is inspired by Chef Paul Player's signature dish from the Gaylord Palms Resort.
How long should I cook the bacon?
Cook the diced bacon for 5-7 minutes until it begins to crisp and is halfway cooked.
How long do the vegetables need to sauté?
Sauté the carrots, onions, celery, and garlic for 7-10 minutes until golden brown and tender.
What texture should the green beans have?
The green beans should be cooked until they are crisp-tender.
How should the crispy shallots be seasoned after frying?
They should be drained on paper towels and seasoned with salt and pepper while still warm.
Can this recipe be prepared for Thanksgiving?
Yes, it is specifically described as a gourmet side dish perfect for elevating a Thanksgiving feast.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 19 specific ingredients listed for this gourmet casserole.
Should the dish be served hot or cold?
The green bean casserole should be served hot, garnished with the crispy shallots.
What kind of wine should be used?
A dry red wine is recommended for the sauce.
What is the purpose of scraping the pan after adding wine?
Scraping the bottom of the pan releases flavorful browned bits, a process known as deglazing.