Description
Ina Garten’s zucchini au gratin combines creamy Gruyère cheese with tender zucchini slices in a luxurious French-inspired side dish. Cheese lovers will savor this rich, comforting recipe that elevates garden vegetables with elegant simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) zucchini, sliced ¼-inch thick (4 zucchini)
- 1 lb (454 g) yellow onions, cut in ½ and sliced (3 large)
- ¾ cup grated Gruyere
- ¾ cup fresh bread crumbs
- 6 tbsps (¾ stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for topping
- 1 cup hot milk
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preparation: Calibrate oven to 400°F with rack positioned centrally, creating an ideal heat environment for the gratin.
- Caramelizing Aromatics: Gently melt butter in a large sauté pan, slowly transforming onions into a soft, translucent foundation through patient cooking, stirring intermittently to prevent scorching.
- Vegetable Integration: Introduce zucchini to the pan, covering and allowing it to tenderize while infusing with subtle onion essence. Uncover and season with pepper, salt, and nutmeg, then dust lightly with flour to create a delicate binding layer.
- Sauce Formation: Stream hot milk into the vegetable mixture, whisking continuously to develop a luxurious, velvety sauce that coats the ingredients with creamy sophistication.
- Baking Composition: Elegantly transfer the zucchini mixture into a baking dish, ensuring an even distribution that promises uniform cooking and flavor intensity.
- Crisp Topping: Blend bread crumbs and Gruyere cheese, generously dispersing the mixture across the surface to create a golden, crisp crown that adds textural contrast.
- Final Baking: Embellish with strategic butter dots and bake until the surface transforms into a bronzed, bubbling masterpiece, signaling the gratin’s perfect completion.
Notes
- Select Fresh Zucchini: Choose firm, small to medium-sized zucchini without blemishes for the best texture and flavor.
- Master Low-Heat Technique: Cook onions slowly to develop deep, sweet caramelization without burning, which enhances overall dish richness.
- Control Moisture Carefully: Cover zucchini initially to steam, then uncover to allow excess liquid to evaporate, preventing a watery gratin.
- Cheese and Breadcrumb Topping: Ensure even distribution of Gruyere and breadcrumbs for a perfectly crispy, golden-brown crust that adds delightful crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg