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Parsnip-Cheese Gratin

Parsnip-Cheese Gratin

Cuisine:French

Course:Side Dish

20m prep 50m cook 1h 10m ready

6 to 8 servings This gratin is a rich, warming treat for the coldest winter evenings, with sweet parsnips enrobed in cream and tucked under a generous blanket of molten cheese.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1¾ pounds parsnips
  • 1 large onion or large leek, trimmed, halved, well cleaned, and thinly sliced
  • (4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, about 6 slices)
  • 1¼ cups grated Swiss cheese (5 ounces)
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried thyme or marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon minced fresh sage or rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried sage or rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1
    • Dry bread crumbs
    • Dry bread crumbs
    • (Sweet paprika, up to ½ teaspoon per 1 cup crumbs)
    • Dots of butter
    • Dry bread crumbs
    • Finely grated Cheddar, Romano, or Parmesan (up to ¼ cup per 1 cup crumbs)
    • (Sweet paprika, up to ½ teaspoon per 1 cup crumbs)
    • Dots of butter
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Sprinkle over the food in a light but thorough covering: Dry bread crumbs
    2. Unless otherwise directed, bake in a 375°F oven until a crisp, golden brown crust forms. Or preheat the broiler and place the dish 3 inches below the heat. Allow it to brown, checking frequently.
    3. Mix together: Dry bread crumbs; (Sweet paprika, up to ½ teaspoon per 1 cup crumbs)
    4. Sprinkle in a light but thorough covering over the food. Scatter over the top: Dots of butter
    5. Unless otherwise directed, bake in a 375°F oven to produce a crisp, golden crust. Or preheat the broiler and place the dish 5 inches below the heat. Allow it to brown, checking frequently.
    6. Combine in a medium bowl: Dry bread crumbs; Finely grated Cheddar, Romano, or Parmesan (up to ¼ cup per 1 cup crumbs); (Sweet paprika, up to ½ teaspoon per 1 cup crumbs)
    7. Sprinkle in a light but thorough covering over the food. Scatter over the top: Dots of butter
    8. Unless otherwise directed, bake in a preheated 350°F oven to produce a crisp, golden crust. Or preheat the broiler and place the dish 5 inches below the heat. Allow it to brown, checking frequently.

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 13 × 9-inch baking dish. Peel and trim: 1¾ pounds parsnips

  2. Step 2.

    If the parsnips are thin, halve them lengthwise. If they are larger, cut them lengthwise so they are in roughly ½-inch-thick batons. If the parsnips have a woody core, cut it out. Set aside. Have ready: 1 large onion or large leek, trimmed, halved, well cleaned, and thinly sliced; (4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, about 6 slices); 1¼ cups grated Swiss cheese (5 ounces)

  3. Step 3.

    Mix together in a medium bowl: 1½ cups heavy cream; 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried thyme or marjoram; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon minced fresh sage or rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried sage or rosemary; ½ teaspoon black pepper

  4. Step 4.

    Scatter the onion over the bottom of the dish and place the parsnips on top. If using, top with the prosciutto, then sprinkle with the cheese. Pour the cream mixture over everything. Bake until the top is golden and the parsnips are tender, 45 to 55 minutes. If desired, sprinkle halfway through baking with: (Au Gratin II)

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