When I was in 7th grade we were required to take Home Economics and the first thing we made was a white sauce, also known as Béchamel sauce. Having been in 4-H and done lots of cooking already at home, I thought this was the lamest thing. I couldn’t imagine Creamed Peas on Toast eeewww– the epitome of a teenager’s idea of gross food! Little did I know that years later this skill would “FREE” me from the “Canned Soup” casserole routine.
There are lots of reasons we should consider alternatives to canned soup, calories, salt, processed foods etc. Those are great reasons and since I have started the 10 Week Wellness Challenge with the Iowa Food & Family Project team, I probably should stick with those reasons. However, I really threw out the canned soup from my kitchen because of flavor. Fresh and homemade is ALWAYS better than processed food. So bonus, it’s better for you too!!!
Making Your Own Cream of Mushroom Soup For Your Casseroles
I like mini or baby Bella mushrooms, they have an earthier, meaty taste that I like better than button mushrooms.
After dicing up the mushrooms, sauteing them will draw out the extra water and enhance their flavor.
Make sure you cook your roux (the flour, butter and mushroom mixture) a couple of minutes stirring often — this will remove the “raw” flour taste.
Adding your “cold” liquid a bit at a time, stirring it in each time until you get a lovely smooth sauce.
Pour the sauce over your cooked green beans and stir to combine.
Optionally sprinkle with a few French Fried Onions
I love to use a cast iron skillet for this dish.
My Recipe
- 16 oz Fresh or Frozen Green Beans
- 6 to 8 Baby Bella Mushrooms or more if you like (1 cup diced)
- 2 TBSP Butter (you can use a light margarine, however, I know what is in butter and prefer natural ingredients)
- 2 TBSP Flour
- 1 or 2 Cloves of Garlic -- finely minced
- 1 Cup Low-Fat Milk or Chicken Broth (Homemade stock or Low-Sodium)
- ¼ cup French Fried Onions (optional)
- Kosher Salt and Ground Pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare Green Beans to just crisp -- don't over cook since you will be baking.
- Drain beans -- set aside.
- Lightly grease or spray a casserole or you can do it all in a cast iron skillet. In that case don't grease.
- Rinse mushroom in cool water, pat dry.
- Snap out the stem, throw away. Dice mushrooms into a small dice.
- Melt 1 TBSP butter into a saute pan or your cast iron skillet.
- Saute diced mushrooms on med-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. This will help remove the extra water in the mushrooms (that makes them slimy) and bring out their flavor. Lightly salt and pepper.
- Add minced garlic and saute another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the remaining butter and melt.
- Sprinkle mushrooms with 2 TBSP of flour stirring constantly to create a roux. Cook 2 more minutes.
- Add cold liquid very slowly -- a bit at a time, stirring quickly continually until all liquid is added and your sauce comes together smoothly.
- Salt and Pepper to taste.
- If you are using a cast iron skillet add your green beans and combine -- otherwise combine and put in casserole dish.
- Optionally top with French Fried Onions.
- Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Looks So Yummy!!! Those mushrooms….. Yum. Never thought of making my own. Thanks!! You are awesome!
Thanks, Kelly. It is super easy and quick. What’s nice is you can use this recipe for any recipe that calls for mushroom soup.
What a great alternative !! Saving and sharing!!! Yum!
I love little bella mushrooms. I pinned this to try the next time I make green bean casserole.
Rena — you can use it for any casserole that calls for canned mushroom soup — always makes them better!
Green bean casserole has always turned me off, Mary. Until now! This looks delicious!
It’s always been that gross mushroom soup that turned me off too — I use this sauce to replace any recipe that calls for the canned mushroom soup.
This looks so good! And what a great reminder that green bean casserole is good all year long and not just at holidays 😉
This nice part is that you can use this sauce for any casserole recipe you’d use a can of mushroom soup!
This sounds like a much yummier version!
I love making my own white sauce. It makes me feel like a pro. Good recipe.
It is funny something so easy and basic in cooking can seem also so intimidating.