Monday, December 28, 2015

Broccoli Gratin


I was lucky to have two Christmas celebrations this year. We realized at the last minute that we had ignored veggies altogether for our celebration on Friday. So I needed a quick dish that was a little bit indulgent. I happened to have some very nice broccoli in the fridge and exactly one cup of leftover shredded sharp cheddar from some scones I had made.

When I found Food Network's Broccoli Gratin, I knew I had just the right thing. What I liked about this recipe is that the cheese doesn't have to be melted into the sauce. I switched it up a little bit, though. The original recipe calls for topping it with breadcrumbs cooked in butter. I was in a hurry, with a bunch of other dishes to prepare, so I mixed Panko with Parmesan instead. The Parmesan gave it a very salty flavor but it went over well. The baking time was a bit shorter than in the recipe for me, so keep an eye on that.

Bake it in a pretty oven to table dish and you have a healthy veggie, loaded with cheesiness.


Broccoli Gratin
from Food Network

1/4 cup unsalted butter + butter for greasing the dish
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
pinch of nutmeg
freshly ground black pepper
8 cups (roughly 4 heads) broccoli
1 cup shredded or grated sharp Cheddar
1/4 cup Panko
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Steam the broccoli. Preheat oven to 450. Grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Meanwhile, melt the butter and whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the milk, salt, and nutmeg, whisk well and bring to a boil. Simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add pepper.

Pour the broccoli into the baking dish and sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar. Pour the sauce over top, and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar. Mix the Panko with the Parmesan and sprinkle over top.

Bake 20 minutes or until it bubbles.

So good for us!

Easy white sauce.

1/2 of the cheese goes on the broccoli, then top with sauce.

Add remaining cheese.




21 comments:

  1. This sounds and looks delicious. Now if I could only get anyone else to eat broccoli. Have a wonderful New Year. All the recipes you ladies share are great.

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    1. This tastes so much like cheese that you might convert cheese lovers. ; )

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  2. Oh Krista, how can one ever forget vegetables!!!!! I shouldn't talk. I was to bring broccoli salad on Friday, but put off purchasing items, thinking I'd pop into the store Friday morning. Hmmm apparently nothing is open Christmas morning! I might have gotten teases a bit at dinner!!!! Broccoli is our favorite! Happy New Year. The recipe looks yummy

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    1. LOL, Jody! What do you put in your broccoli salad?

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    2. Cauliflower, dried cranberries, bacon, red onions, sunflower seed kernels, real mayonnaise with a bit of vinegar and garlic....and broccoli

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  3. Oh my goodness, looks delicious!

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    1. It was! I don't mind broccoli, but all the cheese helps the non-believers.

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  4. me too, love broccoli, though sadly, I'd have to make it with Swiss cheese if I was going to eat it.

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    1. Is Swiss cheese low in salt? I never thought about it.

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    2. Swiss cheesy would be zestier

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  5. This sounds pretty yummy.

    And Lucy/Roberta, I'm sure it's just as tasty with Swiss cheese.

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    1. I think you're probably right, Libby. And the white sauce could have pepper but no or very little salt.

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  6. Sometimes my family gets tired if the same old vegetable side dishes. This looks yum. My family loves broccoli.

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    1. I think that's true for everyone, Rachel. I've been going through recipes looking for things that are new and different!

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  7. I'm not a big fan of cooked broccoli, but this actually looks quite tasty! I might have to try this. Side note: when my oldest son was little, anytime I asked him what he wanted for dinner he would exclaim "broccoli broccoli broccoli"! :-)

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    1. Really? Did he actually like broccoli or just saying the word?

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    2. Yes! It was his favorite thing to eat, I even wrote about it in his baby book. He's 20 now, and we still tease him to this day and call it "broccoli broccoli broccoli" around our house. :-)

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  8. Yum. Bet I could switch out the panko with gluten free version. And I have broccoli in fridge! Thx
    ~Daryl/Avery

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    1. You absolutely could switch to gluten-free bread crumbs!

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  9. My absolute favorite dish! And it really is quick and easy. Looks great Krista.
    Happy Healthy New Year.

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