Vegan Green Bean Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 lb

/ 16 oz fresh green beans (, not frozen, with ends trimmed)

3 tbsp

vegan butter (, or olive oil (optional - you can omit the butter to make the recipe oil free))

large onion (, peeled and cut into half moon thin slices)

5 oz

/ 140 g/ 2 thick slices of stale bread

3 cloves

garlic (, divided - 1 clove left whole, the other 2 chopped finely)

6 tbsp

nutritional yeast (, divided)

6 oz

/ 170 g / about 2 heaping cups sliced cremini (brown) mushrooms

large sprigs fresh thyme

2 tbsp

all purpose flour (, or cornstarch (corn flour in the UK))

3/4 cup

/ 180 ml vegetable or mushroom broth

1/2 cup

unsweetened non-dairy milk (, soy milk works best)

1/2 tsp

salt (, divided - plus more to taste)

1/4 tsp

freshly ground black pepper (, divided - plus more to taste)