Root Gratin
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Author Notes: This side has appeared on our Thanksgiving table for almost 35 years, and is a favorite of adults and kids alike. Linda Olney's recipe, included in the Time Life Good Cook series, is the inspiration for this dish that I have tweaked to be more appealing to the crowd that professes a dislike of turnips. Salting the vegetables prior to assembling the recipe leeches the bitterness out of the roots, and the substitution of Ritz cracker crumbs to top the gratin adds a delicate sweetness. - Bevi - Bevi
Food52 Review: This Root Gratin is fantastic, creamy and earthy with a buttery crisp topping. I especially like how the parsnips add a sweet root vegetable flavor throughout. The half and half was delectable, however, you could easily enrich with heavy cream and/or a little nutty Gruyère. Definitely a keeper, this recipe makes a delicious accompaniment to any roasted meat and is tasty warmed up the next day! - Lapadia - lapadia
Serves 10 to 12 modestly
- 5 medium sized turnips, but feel free to throw in a rutabaga
- 3 parsnips
- 10 tablespoons butter
- heavy cream or half and half to cover the roots in the gratin dish
- salt
- pepper
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- Peel the roots and grate them in a food processor.
- Liberally salt the grated roots and allow them to drain in a colander for at least a half hour. Then, squeeze the water out of the roots until they are dry.
- Melt 4 Tablespoons of butter in a large skillet, and add the roots. Stir for about 10 minutes.
- Place the roots in a large buttered gratin dish. Cover with the cream or half and half so the liquid is almost covering the roots.
- Heat the remaining butter in a skillet, and add the Ritz Cracker crumbs to the skillet. (I crush the crackers with a rolling pin.) Stir for just a few minutes.
- Spread the cracker crumbs over the top of the gratin, dot with the remaining butter, and bake in a 375-degree oven for 30 minutes. Let cool just a bit before serving.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Root Vegetable Side
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Vegetarian Holiday Side
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over 1 year ago Bevi
Thanks fo the lovely review, lapadia! I am so thrilled you enjoyed it!
over 1 year ago Bevi
That sounds great! In fact, I am going to try them as well.
over 1 year ago lapadia
Hey Bevi, I missed this months ago!! Saved it, thinking maybe some buttered panko may work for the topping, too?
over 1 year ago Bevi
What a gorgeous photo! Thanks so much for taking this shot. As boulangere says, no grass grows under your feet!
over 1 year ago lapadia
:)