Butternut Squash And Creamed Spinach Gratin Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CREAMED-SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• If using fresh spinach, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pot over high heat. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water.
• Thoroughly squeeze cooked fresh or thawed frozen spinach in small handfuls to remove excess moisture, then coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion mixture to spinach along with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cream and stir to combine.
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches; not glass).
• Cut squash to separate bulb section from solid neck section, then cut pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices with slicer.
• Layer squash and spinach mixture in baking dish, using about one fifth of squash and one fourth of spinach for each layer, beginning and ending with squash. Sprinkle top layer of squash evenly with cheese and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then cover directly with a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Bake until squash is tender and filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove paper and bake gratin until browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes, or broil 3 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• If using fresh spinach, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pot over high heat. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. You may skip this step if you like, I don't think it's really necessary.
• Thoroughly squeeze cooked fresh or thawed frozen spinach in small handfuls to remove excess moisture(try to get it absolutely dry), then coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch heavy skillet over medium low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes(you can cook it till caramalized if you like). Add onion mixture to spinach along with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cream and stir to combine.
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches; not glass-I think you could use glass, just be careful when broiling-that's the reason it's not recommended).
• Cut squash to separate bulb section from solid neck section, then cut pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices with slicer or food processor. To make the squash easier to cut, microwave for 3-5 minutes.
• Layer squash and spinach mixture in baking dish, using about one fifth of squash and one fourth of spinach for each layer, beginning and ending with squash. Sprinkle each layer of squash evenly with cheeses and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then cover directly with a sheet of parchment or wax paper(or use glass lid). Bake until squash is tender and filling is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. If you like, you can use individual baking dishes, just note shorter cooking time. I haven't tried baking it individually so cook times are estimated.
• Remove paper and bake gratin until browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes, or broil 3 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• If making individual gratins, bake 20-30 minutes.
• Also, for a shortcut, use 3 packages of creamed spinach(cooked) and skip the cream.
• Some reviewers added a little jalapeno(or chipotle peppers and sliced almonds on top.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CREAMED SPINACH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Thaw, drain and press the spinach until very dry. Set aside in colander or on paper towels.
• Peel and seed the squash, cut lengthwise into pieces about 2-3 inches wide.
• Adjust your mandoline to about 1/4 in thick and slice all pieces (about the size of very thick potato chips).
• In a heavy skillet, melt half the butter on low heat and sauté the onion, leek and garlic until they are tender and translucent. Mix well with the spinach.
• Season spinach mix with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Use as much of the remaining butter as you like to grease a 13x9-inch Pyrex casserole.
• Layer the bottom of the casserole tightly with squash. Then put a layer of the spinach mixture over that. Sprinkle parmesan over each layer of spinach.
• Continue layering squash and spinach mixture until you have 5 layers of squash and 4 layers of spinach.
• Pour cream over entire mixture until it nearly reaches the top layer of squash.
• Sprinkle a heavy layer of parmesan over the entire casserole.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes or until squash is tender. The cream will be boiling.
• Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until parmesan starts to crust.
• Remove and let cool for 10-15 minutes.
• DIG IN!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a gratin baking dish with butter.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a large skillet over low heat; add onions and sage. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add squash, cover, and steam until tender, 10 to 20 minutes. Transfer squash to prepared gratin dish; toss with garlic and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add the caramelized onions to the pan and gently mix to combine.
• Warm cream in a saucepan over low heat; pour over squash mixture. Stir to coat. Combine bread crumbs and 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter together in a bowl; sprinkle over squash mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until gratin is bubbling and breadcrumbs are browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

MERRITT'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onions and garlic; cook until the onions soften and turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the butternut squash and brown sugar. Continue cooking and stirring until the butternut squash begins to brown on the edges, but is still somewhat firm in the center, about 10 minutes more. Scrape the squash into the prepared baking dish, and pour in the chicken broth. Wrap tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the liquid has been absorbed and the squash is tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Toss together the Gruyere cheese, Cheddar cheese, bread crumbs, thyme, and rosemary in a bowl until evenly combined. Remove the foil from the baking dish, and sprinkle the squash evenly with the cheese mixture. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Return to the oven, and bake uncovered for 15 minutes more until the topping is lightly crunchy and brown.