I know there are a lot of families that consider a green bean casserole a holiday staple. We were never that family. So I’ve actually never tried a green bean casserole. To be honest, it doesn’t sound that amazing.
To be clear, this is not a green bean casserole. But it is a baked pasta dish. And it does have green beans. So by default, it’s kinda a green bean casserole. Does that make any sense? Hmmm…
Well, I’ll just share the recipe and let you decide.
Creamy Green Bean Casserole (vegan)
Ingredients:
- 16 oz. whole wheat penne
- 30 oz. green beans (2 cans)
- 8 oz. vegan cream cheese* (I used Follow Your Heart)
- 2 oz. vegan sour cream* (I used Follow Your Heart)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasonings
- ~1/2 cup bread crumbs
* If you can’t find these products you could substitute 12 ounces of silken tofu blended with 1/4 cup nutritional yeast.
My sister recently sent me this pasta.
It’s made from a very specific type of wheat grain (it’s non GMO and identity preserved – meaning it’s kept separate from other types of wheat like durum throughout the growing, milling and manufacturing).
If you’re wondering why my sister sent me Mara’s pasta, it’s because she was Mara’s babysitter for years. Apparently, Mara’s dad is now in the pasta making business (?) and was kind enough to name the grain after his daughter. Ladies and gentlemen…the maragrain.
Pretty cool, huh? I want a grain named after me!
So anyway…that’s the story of the pasta. The rest of the ingredients don’t have nearly as cool of a background history. But they taste good, so that counts for something.
After the pasta was cooked and drained, I added the rest of the ingredients.
I mixed everything in the casserole dish (because I’m lazy and don’t like dirtying extra pots & pans) ‘til the pasta and green beans were coated in creamy, cheesy, sauce.
Then I sprinkled the bread crumbs over the top. Liberally.
Panko crumbs seem like a healthier choice than crispy fried onions, but I’m not judging if that’s your thing.
I baked it at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
And out it came, bronzed and crusty on top, warm and gooey on the inside. And the apartment smelled so good (which is definitely a holiday tradition).
This is comfort food at it’s finest.
Just as a head’s up, though, it’s not the most gorgeous of dishes. Even the fanciest china won’t help.
Good thing it tastes way better than the blob that it resembles.
What are some of your family’s holiday staples? Is there a dish that you look forward to the most? The least?
I look forward to roasted root veggies the most. My mom makes at least two huge trays and I’m pretty sure I could eat them all by myself.
Semi-related is the loaf of fruit cake that someone “gifts” my parents with year after year (which sits on the kitchen counter until February…).
This look so yummy! I love pasta in casseroles 🙂
I never had green bean casserole either until I had thanksgiving at my in-law’s…it’s delicious, but I like your healthy version — that means you can have twice as much, right?
I look forward to my Mom’s mashed sweet potatoes with the small marshmallows roasted on top. I literally could just eat this for Thanksgiving and be satisfied…Okay maybe with some stuffing on the side. 🙂 Happy Friday!
Thanks for the post sister! I made Mara’s Pasta for dinner last night and it was yummmmy!
For all those who do eat pasta and are looking for a DELICIOUS whole wheat one that doesn’t taste weird…give Maras Pasta a try, I promise you won’t be disappointed (and you know I grew up in a foodie family!!)
http://www.maraspasta.com/
happy holidays 🙂
definitely 🙂
I have never had green bean casserole, it never sounds appealing. Mashed maple pecan sweet taters though…yum!
As a brown person, green bean casserole has never been a staple during holidays in our household either. A couple of years back, we did have it for Thanksgiving because the bfs of our cousins wanted to contribute something to the meal that was “American”. So we had it. I had just a taste because it was overly doused in cream and you know that does not sit well with my tum tum. Never again. So, thank you for posting this. Such a better alternative!
I think I may attempt to make this for Uchima’s fakesgiving dinner while you’re dancing with other brown peeps this weekend. I’m also bringing kale for people to try. Woop woop!
As delicious as this mock green bean casserole looks, unfortunately, I’m in charge of the green bean casserole when we go to Aunt Gloria and Uncle Bill’s for the Thanksgiving meal and I’ve been commissioned to make the traditional one. Maybe next time….. See you next week!!!
yum, that sounds delicious! i’m a fan of the green bean/corn casserole with crumbled saltines on top, but it’s not my favorite. i look forward to the potatoes – any kind will do!
That casserole looks insanely delicious, I’m almost drooling over here! My favorite is stuffing, but I won’t be able to eat it this year since I found out about my gluten intolerance (my cousins and aunt make the dinner). At least I can have the cranberry sauce! Always good.
I can’t say that I’ve ever tried a green bean casserole either. They’ve honestly never looked or sounded appetizing to me. But, this recipe does! How can you go wrong with baked pasta?
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Yuchhhhh…….
I don’t even understand how I stopped up right here, but I thought this post used to be good.
I don’t realize who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known
blogger if you are not already. Cheers!