Many casseroles and almost any dish that gets baked in a casserole can benefit from a buttery-rich crispy topping. It enhances both the flavor and texture, especially if the dish is creamy or cheesy-creamy. Kids adore it. Adults love it. I describe my all-purpose Ritz-cracker topping as the grand finale that transforms an ordinary casserole into an extraordinary one. It takes just a few moments to prepare, and, it can be made hours ahead of time too. Just sprinkle it on any casserole during the last 15 minutes of the baking process. Voila: accolades and applause.
Sprinkle on any casserole during the last 15 minutes of baking process.
My 2:1 ratio is: 2 tablespoons butter to 1 dozen Ritz crackers.
4 dozen Ritz crackers, no substitutions
8 tablespoons salted butter, 1 stick
~Step 1. Place crackers in a 1-gallon food storage bag. Using a small rolling pin, crush them to the size of coarse breadcrumbs. In a 1-cup measuring container, melt the butter in the microwave. Pour the butter into the bag of cracker crumbs. Using your fingertips, massage the bag until butter is evenly incorporated into the still-loose cracker crumbs. Can be made 6-8 hours in advance, but, do not refrigerate.
Try it on my Better-than-Store-Bought Macaroni & Cheese:
Got fish? Baked Lemon-Pepper Cod w/Ritz Cracker Topping:
Buttery-Rich Crispy Ritz Cracker Casserole Topping: Recipe yields 4 cups topping mixture/enough to top 1, 13" x 9" x 2" 3-quart casserole.
Special Equipment List: 1-gallon food storage bag; small rolling pin; 1-cup measuring container
Cook's Note: The classic green bean casserole recipe consisted of five pantry-staple ingredients + "a dash of pepper": canned green beans, canned cream of mushroom soup, canned fried onions, milk and soy sauce (I would have guessed Worcestershire sauce). It is a true representation of 1950's style American 'cooking from cans and boxes' -- open the cans and/or boxes, mix everything together in one casserole and bake it. In my recipe for, ~ It's Not Easy Being 60: The Green Bean Casserole ~, I've moved on. Ritz cracker topping is great on this one too!
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2020)
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