Description
Ina Garten’s broccoli casserole brings comfort and elegance to classic vegetable side dishes. Creamy cheese sauce, tender broccoli, and buttery breadcrumbs create a rich, satisfying experience you’ll crave at family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) broccoli, cut into small florets (about 8 cups)
- 1 cup (120 grams) grated sharp Cheddar (about 4 ounces)
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) whole milk
Thickening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish
- 3 tablespoons (23 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus extra as needed
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Topping Ingredient:
- ½ cup (60 grams) fresh bread crumbs
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 450°F (232°C) and thoroughly coat an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the creamy white sauce by gently melting 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, ensuring it doesn’t brown.
- Gradually whisk all-purpose flour into the melted butter, creating a smooth, pale roux that will thicken the sauce without lumps.
- Slowly pour cold whole milk into the roux, continuously whisking to incorporate fully and prevent any potential scorching on the bottom of the pan.
- Season the developing sauce with fine sea salt and a delicate pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, stirring constantly until the mixture transforms into a velvety, thick consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- In a separate cooking vessel, steam fresh broccoli florets for approximately 4-5 minutes, maintaining their vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture.
- Arrange the steamed broccoli evenly across the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform base for the gratin.
- Sprinkle half of the grated cheese over the broccoli, ensuring even distribution.
- Carefully pour the luxurious white sauce over the broccoli and cheese, allowing it to seep between the vegetable pieces.
- Melt an additional tablespoon of butter and combine it with breadcrumbs to create a golden, crispy topping.
- Evenly scatter the buttered breadcrumbs across the surface of the gratin, providing a crunchy contrast to the creamy underneath.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, watching for a bubbling exterior and a light golden-brown topping that signals perfect doneness.
Notes
- Prep this casserole in advance for stress-free entertaining, allowing more time to enjoy with family and friends.
- Toasting bread crumbs in butter transforms an ordinary topping into a golden, crispy masterpiece that elevates the entire dish.
- Steaming broccoli beforehand locks in nutrients and ensures a vibrant green color that looks as amazing as it tastes.
- Nutmeg’s hidden magic brings warmth and unexpected depth to the creamy white sauce, creating a flavor profile that surprises and delights.
- Freshly grated cheese melts like silk, delivering a more robust flavor that pre-shredded cheese simply can’t match.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 244
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 398 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg