Best Three Greens Gratin Recipes

SPRING GREENS AND LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in an ovenproof 10" skillet (such as cast iron) over medium-low heat. Add leeks and ramp bulbs and cook, stirring often, until leeks are softened, about 10 minutes. (Try to keep the leeks from browning.)
• Add ramp greens, arugula, and spinach in big handfuls, cooking and wilting one batch before adding the next. (At first it will look like all those greens will never fit in the skillet, but keep at it-you'll see!) When all greens are wilted (this may take 15-20 minutes), add coriander, salt, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, until spices are incorporated, about 1 minute. Add lemon zest, cream, and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Continue to cook, stirring, until cream has slightly reduced, about 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
• Toss bread with oil in a large bowl to coat. Arrange bread on top of vegetables, taking care not to cover the greens completely (you want them to peek through here and there). Sprinkle remaining 2 Tbsp. Parmesan over.
• Transfer to oven and bake gratin until bread is golden brown and crisp, cheese is melted, and cream is bubbling, 35-45 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

MUSHROOM AND GREENS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt abundantly and add the greens. Cook for one to four minutes, depending on the type of green (sturdy greens take longer), until just tender. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, then drain and squeeze out water. Chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, and add the shallots or onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, three to five minutes. Add the mushrooms, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about eight minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, and the rosemary and garlic. Cook for another minute. Add the greens, and stir together for another minute. Adjust seasonings.
• Whisk together the eggs and milk. Add salt and pepper, and stir in the cheeses and mushroom/greens mixture. Scrape into the baking dish. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until browned and sizzling. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

COLLARD GREENS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, fry the bacon until half-cooked. Add the mushrooms and red onions and saute until the bacon is fully cooked and onions have softened. Increase the heat to high. Add the collard greens and cook until the greens are wilted. Turn off the heat and set the pan aside.
• In a separate pan, melt the butter and then add the flour. Cook, whisking frequently, to create a smooth, blond roux (this will take 3 to 4 minutes; do not brown, as the goal is just to remove the raw taste from the flour). Slowly add the cream while whisking and adjust the heat to keep the sauce at a simmer. Add the salt and pepper to taste (it should taste like a moderately salty cream gravy). Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and easily coats the back of a spoon.
• Butter an 8-by-12-inch casserole dish (or 8-to-10-cup capacity casserole). Combine the collard greens with cream sauce and transfer to the casserole. Top with the cheese and french-fried onions. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese begins to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

COLLARD GREENS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, fry the bacon until half-cooked. Add the mushrooms and red onions and saute until the bacon is fully cooked and onions have softened. Increase the heat to high. Add the collard greens and cook until the greens are wilted. Turn off the heat and set the pan aside.
• In a separate pan, melt the butter and then add the flour. Cook, whisking frequently, to create a smooth, blond roux (this will take 3 to 4 minutes; do not brown, as the goal is just to remove the raw taste from the flour). Slowly add the cream while whisking and adjust the heat to keep the sauce at a simmer. Add the salt and pepper to taste (it should taste like a moderately salty cream gravy). Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and easily coats the back of a spoon.
• Butter an 8-by-12-inch casserole dish (or 8-to-10-cup capacity casserole). Combine the collard greens with cream sauce and transfer to the casserole. Top with the cheese and french-fried onions. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese begins to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.