Layered Green Beans Casserole (Rakott zöldbab) is a beloved Hungarian dish that brings together tender green beans, flavorful minced meat, and creamy sour cream. It’s a comforting one-pot meal, perfect for family dinners. This recipe combines the rich taste of paprika-seasoned meat with the simplicity of rice and beans, all baked to perfection.
Shopping List
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 onion (approx. 100 g)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika (Hungarian sweet paprika is ideal)
- 600 g minced meat (beef or pork)
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 kg green beans (fresh or frozen)
- 250 g rice
- 30 g butter
- 50 g breadcrumbs
- 300 g sour cream
Preparation
To prepare the Layered Green Beans Casserole, follow these steps:
- Cook the Meat Mixture: Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and the paprika. Add the minced meat to the pan and cook until browned. Season with black pepper and cumin, and let it simmer until fully cooked.
- Prepare the Beans and Rice: Steam or boil the green beans in salted water for 8-10 minutes until tender but not mushy. Meanwhile, cook the rice in boiling water with a pinch of salt, following the package instructions.
- Layering the Casserole: Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F). Grease a heatproof baking dish with butter and sprinkle the bottom with breadcrumbs. Place one-third of the green beans at the bottom of the dish, followed by half of the rice and half of the meat mixture. Add another layer of green beans, followed by the remaining rice and meat. Finish with a top layer of green beans.
- Topping: Spread the sour cream evenly over the top layer of green beans.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the top is golden and the layers are heated through.
Nutritional Information
This hearty dish offers a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables, making it a filling meal. Below is the nutritional breakdown for the entire recipe and per serving (assuming 4 servings):
Nutritional Information for the Entire Recipe:
- Calories: ~3100 kcal
- Protein: ~160 g
- Fat: ~160 g
- Carbohydrates: ~260 g
- Fiber: ~35 g
- Sodium: ~4000 mg
- Calcium: ~400 mg
- Iron: ~15 mg
Nutritional Information per Serving (1/4 of the total recipe):
- Calories: ~775 kcal
- Protein: ~40 g
- Fat: ~40 g
- Carbohydrates: ~65 g
- Fiber: ~8.75 g
- Sodium: ~1000 mg
- Calcium: ~100 mg
- Iron: ~3.75 mg
Price per Serving
This is an affordable dish, perfect for students or families on a budget. The estimated total cost of this Layered Green Beans Casserole is approximately $7.20 for 4 servings, making it about $1.80 per serving. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredient costs:
- 1 kg green beans: $2.50
- 600 g minced meat: $3.00
- 250 g rice: $0.60
- 300 g sour cream: $0.70
- 1 onion and 4 garlic cloves: $0.40
- Spices, oil, butter, and breadcrumbs: $0.50
Enjoy this delicious and filling Hungarian classic, perfect for a cozy dinner!
