5 Ingredients or Fewer

Root Gratin

by:
November 18, 2010
4.5
2 Ratings
  • Serves 10 to 12 modestly
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

Test Kitchen Notes

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

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 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
Directions
  1. Peel the roots and grate them in a food processor.
  2. 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.
  3. Melt 4 Tablespoons of butter in a large skillet, and add the roots. Stir for about 10 minutes.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Bevi

Recipe by: Bevi

Cooking is an important part of my past. I grew up and worked on our family resort. These days, I cook good food to please my friends and family.

5 Reviews

Bevi October 13, 2011
Thanks fo the lovely review, lapadia! I am so thrilled you enjoyed it!
 
Bevi September 23, 2011
That sounds great! In fact, I am going to try them as well.
 
lapadia September 23, 2011
Hey Bevi, I missed this months ago!! Saved it, thinking maybe some buttered panko may work for the topping, too?
 
Bevi October 7, 2011
What a gorgeous photo! Thanks so much for taking this shot. As boulangere says, no grass grows under your feet!
 
lapadia October 7, 2011
:)