Basic Gratin

The only thing that makes a casserole a gratin is the crisp, well-browned, broiled topping. You can use buttered bread crumbs, grated cheese, a mixture of the two, or nothing at all over layers of cooked vegetables.

  • 1 pound potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, or Jerusalem artichokes, peeled and thinly sliced

  • 1 pound leafy greens, cabbage, zucchini, summer squash, fennel, Belgian endive, or cauliflower, rinsed and drained, if necessary, and thinly sliced, or an additional pound of roots and tubers above

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (optional)

  • 2 cups milk, stock, or cooled vegetable cooking liquid

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • Salt and freshly milled black pepper

  • 1¼ cups grated Cheddar, Swiss, Muenster, Monterey Jack, or other cheese

  • ½ cup fresh bread crumbs or panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease a 2-quart gratin or shallow baking dish.

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic, if using, until they start to brown, about 4 minutes.

  • Whisk the milk into the flour in a small bowl. Whisk the milk mixture into the onion mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is bubbly and thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  • Layer half of the root vegetables, ⅓ cup sauce, ¼ cup cheese, half of

  • the tender vegetables, ⅓ cup sauce, and ¼ cup cheese. Repeat, ending with

  • 1 cup sauce and ½ cup cheese. Combine the bread crumbs and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. If using butter, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons before combining. Sprinkle crumbs over the cheese.

  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the root vegetables are tender and the top is well browned.

Basic Gratin photo

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