Best Simple Provençal Winter Squash Gratin Recipes

PROVENçAL TOMATO AND SQUASH GRATIN

Steps:

• Peel and seed half the tomatoes, and chop fine. Slice the rest and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about 30 seconds, until it begins to smell fragrant, and stir in the squash. Cook, stirring often, until the squash is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and the thyme, season with salt and pepper, raise the heat slightly and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the rice or other grains and remove from the heat.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cooked vegetables, salt and pepper to taste, and the cheese and combine well. Scrape into the gratin dish.
• Slice the remaining tomatoes and cover the top of the gratin in one layer. Drizzle on the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Bake 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and the gratin is sizzling. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle the basil over the top. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

WINTER SQUASH GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with olive oil. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy membranes, brush the cut sides with olive oil and lay cut side down on the foil-covered baking sheet. Bake 40 minutes, or until soft enough to pierce easily with a knife. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then peel and either mash with a fork, puree in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, or finely dice. You should have about 2 cups of pureed or finely diced squash.
• Turn the oven down to 375ºF and oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish with olive oil. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a medium heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the parsley and sage, and squash, and remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl and whisk in the milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Stir in the squash mixture and the Gruyère. Taste and adjust seasonings. Scrape into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned on the top and sizzling. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

WINTER SQUASH AND POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Rub the inside of a 2-quart gratin dish or baking dish with the cut side of the garlic, and lightly oil with olive oil or butter. Slice any garlic that remains and toss with the potatoes, squash, thyme, rosemary, half the cheese and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Arrange in an even layer in the gratin dish.
• Pour the milk over the potatoes and squash, and press the vegetables down into the milk. Place in the oven, and bake one hour. Every 20 minutes, remove the gratin dish and press the potatoes and squash down into the liquid with the back of a large spoon. After one hour, sprinkle on the remaining cheese and bake for another 30 minutes, until the top is golden and the sides crusty. Remove from the oven, and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve hot or warm.

WINTER SQUASH GRATIN WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and set aside until ready to bake.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the bacon, tossing occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is deep golden brown and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a large heatproof bowl, leaving as much fat in the skillet as possible. Add 1 more tablespoon oil to the skillet and half the mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, until browned, about 3 minutes, then toss and continue cooking, undisturbed, until browned on the second side, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the large bowl. Repeat with 1 more tablespoon oil and the remaining mushrooms.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the same skillet and cook the onions and garlic over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the 1 tablespoon rosemary, 1 tablespoon sage, 1 tablespoon thyme, all of the nutmeg and cayenne, 4 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper; cook until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the flour, stir until completely coated and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk, bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Parmigiano and Gruyere and transfer to the large bowl; add the squash and toss to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking pan, cover tightly with foil and bake until the squash is tender and the gratin is boiling rapidly, 60 to 75 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit covered until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, rinse and wipe the skillet clean and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cook the bread, tossing frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, add the remaining 1 teaspoon each rosemary, sage and thyme, tossing until completely combined and cook until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Just before serving, uncover the gratin and top with the herbed croutons.