"Au gratin" is a French phrase which means to be covered in cheese or breadcrumbs and browned. Vegetable gratin is such a lovely, versatile dish wherein the veggies are baked in freshly prepared white sauce and can be served with toasted bread. This was my family's Christmas Dinner. Ingredients: For stir fried veggies: · Olive Oil – 1.5 tsp (any oil can be used) · Garlic - 2 tbsp (chopped) · Veggies: Sweet Corn kernels (boiled) Mushroom (diced) Yellow Zucchini (diced) Green Zucchini (diced) Yellow bell pepper (diced) Red bell pepper (diced) Broccoli (blanched) Spinach (blanched and chopped) Basil leaves · Salt · Red Chilli flakes - 1 tsp · Black pepper – ¼ tsp · Oregano -1 tsp · Mixed Herbs – 1 tsp For white sauce: · Butter – 2 tbsp · Oil – 1 tbsp · Refined flour – 3 tbsp · Milk – 250-300 ml · Salt to taste · Black pepper powder – ¼ tsp · Oregano - ½ tsp · Red chilli flakes – ½ tsp · Nutmeg powder – ¼ tsp · Processed Cheese – 150-200 gm For Baking: · Processed Cheese · Bread crumbs (optional) Method: For stir fried veggies: · Set a kadai on medium high heat, add olive oil, garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. · Now add all veggies, Basil leaves and cook for 2-3 minutes on high heat. · Add salt, chilli flakes, oregano, mixed herbs, black pepper powder, toss and cook for 1-2 minutes, stir-fried veggies are ready. For white sauce: · Take a thick bottom pan and keep it on medium low heat · Add butter and oil, let it melt, now add the flour and cook the flour for 2-3 minutes. (Remember not to burn the flour or change the colour to brown, cook till it is light brown in colour) · Now add milk in 2 batches and make sure to whisk well while adding milk to make a lump free sauce. · Add salt to taste, black pepper powder, oregano, red chilli flakes and nutmeg powder, stir well. · Now add processed cheese and give a good mix until the cheese melts. The white sauce is ready. For Baking: · Add the stir-fried veggies in the freshly prepared white sauce, mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. · Pour the veggies with white sauce in a baking dish and grate some processed cheese over it. You can also add bread crumbs and top it with grated cheese (Optional step). · Preheat the oven for 10 mins and bake it at 180°C for 15-20 minutes or till the cheese turns slightly brown in colour. · Serve hot with freshly toasted garlic bread.
Comments