Looking for a broccoli or green bean recipe...

[YodasMom]

We have another Christmas / post-Christmas dinner this Thursday with some relatives coming in for a few days this week.

I'm looking for a good vegetable recipe, probably with either broccoli or green beans. I don't want to use the traditional Velveta/Ritz cracker broccoli recipe or the traditional green bean/ mushroom soup/ onion ring recipes. I'd love to do something different, and possibly a little lighter.

Any suggestions? TIA

 

[piratesmate]

How about a cold salad? This is a favorite with us! I used to have it with rasins, but then I found a WDW recipe that used Craisins & like that much, much better!

Broccoli Cranberry Salad
from Cape May Buffet at the Beach Club

4 c broccoli flowerettes (chopped fine)
¼ c diced celery
8 oz dried cranberries
¼ c shelled sunflower seeds

Dressing:
1 c mayonnaise
¼ c sugar
¼ c vinegar

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cranberries, sunflower seeds and celery. Pour dressing over and toss. Keep refrigerated.
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Or maybe this one...basic but different...

Green Beans with Creamy Balsamic Dressing
from Newman’s Own products

½ c Stonyfield Farm yogurt
½ c Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing
1 lb fresh green beans

Whisk yogurt with dressing. Steam green beans until tender. Rinse beans in cold water until cool, pat dry, then toss them with dressing until lightly coated. Chill and serve as a cold side dish.

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We have this often - and not just with other oriental-type dishes. Also, I just omit the beef most of the time because I serve it as a side dish.

Stir-Fried Green Beans

½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbl soy sauce
½ c water or stock
2 Tbl oil
¼ lb raw beef chuck
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ c onion, diced
1 lb green beans
Combine salt, sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, stock & set aside. Cut beef into thin, bite-sized slices. Heat oil, add beef, garlic & onion, then stir-fry over high heat until beef begins to change color. Remove from skillet & set aside. If needed, add more oil & reheat skillet. Add beans & stir until bright green. Immediately add soy sauce mixture & cook, stirring until clear. Cover skillet & cook over medium heat until beans are just crisp-tender. Return beef to skillet, stir well & remove from heat. Serve immediately with rice.

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I haven't made this one yet, but it sounds good.

Veggie Salad

1 pkg bacon cooked and crumbled
1 pkg carrots peeled and diced
1 head broccoli chopped
1 head cauliflower chopped
1 large pkg shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bottle Seven Seas CREAMY Italian salad dressing.

Combine, chill and serve

 

[UGAFan0829]

Here's one that I love:
Broccoli and Rice Casserole
2 packs frozen, chopped broccoli
2 cups uncooked, white Minute rice
3 to 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 stick melted butter or margarine
2 cans cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the broccoli according to the directions on the package. Cook the minute rice according to the directions on the package. Mix both the broccoli and rice together in a large bowl. Add the butter, soup, salt and pepper, and 2 cups of cheese. Mix all together, and spread into a casserole dish. Preheat the oven to 350, and top the dish with cheese. Put in the oven for approx. 30 minutes. Serve warm.

This makes one of the 9x13 size casserole dishes, so it's plenty. If you wanted to make a smaller amount, just divide everything in half.

 

[YodasMom]

Thanks for the recipes, Piratesmate and UGA Fan! They sound delicious!! All of them!!

I'm looking forward to trying the variation on the Broccoli salad from Cape May, too. I've never tried the Craisins. Since there will be salads there, I won't be able to do it for this dinner, but I sure do want to try it soon.

 

[janet715]

I boil fresh green beans for about 15 minutes, drain them and mix in some butter and fresh pressed garlic. It's quick, easy and taste just like Boston Market's!

 

[MazdaUK]

You could steam the broccoli and toss with butter and grated parmesan. Delia Smith has a lovely low fat recipe for green beans with chilli and sesame - DH's favourite! available at deliaonline I expect.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

For a quick side I toss broccoli (or cauliflower) in butter, seasoned bread crumbs & grated pecorino cheese. I'm sure you could use parmesean if you wanted.

 

[Twigs]

I make a cold broccoli salad that everyone loves. Cook the broccoli then run under cold water. Put into a bowl and add the juice of 4 lemons, olive oil, 2 cloves garlic crushed, and about 1/2 can pitted black olives.

 

[maria34a]

My family loves the broccoli steamed then tossed with butter and equal parts of bread crumbs and parmasian cheese and then you bake for 40 min. It is really good!!!

 

[bnf2]

Way after it was needed, but I have a great green bean casserole recipe (I can't take the mushroomsoup/fr.fried onion one either)

BTW... this is not figure friendly... but oh so good!

-melt 6 T. butter in 2qt. casserole dish
-crush one "roll" Ritz crackers (about 30), dump in butter & press down to make a crust (save a few T. for a topping)
-top with 2 cans drained french cut green beans
-make basic white sauce (2 T. butter, 2T flour, 1 C milk), add sm. jar Cheez Whiz (LF=not so good), stir until melted
-spinkle beans with slivered almonds (optional)
-pour cheese sauce over beans
-sprinkle remaining cracker crumbs on top of cheese
-bake at 350 for about 20 min. - until golden

I've been making this for over 20 years (yes, I started cooking when I was 5 )and everyone always loves it!

 

[YodasMom]

I just checked this board for the first time in a while and found more responses. The recipe I used (and this was the last week of December) was kind of made up and kind of following a recipe. But, I combined the beans and broccoli and used a mixture of Swiss Cheese and sour cream with onions and garlic, etc. It was really a hit. For that dinner, I really needed a casserole that would stay warm awhile out of the oven since you never know when this crazy family is going to eat. It wasn't at my house and I tool it with me.

The one a couple of you recommended with broccoli and parm. cheese, etc. is wonderful and I do that often here at home, but it needs to be eaten sooner than I knew would happen for that dinner.

I also made the broccoli cranberry salad that Piratesmate suggested for another dinner a couple of weeks ago and it was great! Those dried cranberries go a long way!

Thanks for all the suggestions!