Nutmeg Scented Onion Gratin Food

FRUGAL GOURMET'S BAKED ONIONS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• In two batches, sauté the onion in the butter in a large frying pan. Cook only until limp. Do not brown or discolor.
• Deglaze the pan, or remove the onion from the pan and pour sherry, scrapping the pan with a wooden spoon to dissolve the brown, toasted onions.
• Mix the onions, the sherry, nutmeg, salt, pepper and heavy cream together and place in a baking dish. Top with the Swiss and then Parmesan or Romano.
• Bake at 350 until top is a bit brown and bubbling, 15 - 20 minutes.

ONION SOUP GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the leeks, onions and shallots and toss to coat with the butter. Cook onions until they begin to soften. Cover and continue to stir occasionally. When the onions begin to turn golden, turn up the heat to medium high and add the pinch of sugar and nutmeg. Continue to cook until onions turn a rich golden brown. Season onions with salt and pepper. Add red wine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Pour in warm stock and bring to a simmer. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and place bowls on baking sheet. Top each bowl with slice of bread and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

MUSSEL-AND-SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large, deep-sided saucepan combine the wine and mussels, and over high heat bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and cook just until the mussels open, about five minutes. Do not overcook. Remove from the heat. Remove the mussels with a strainer, then strain and reserve the mussel cooking liquid. Discard any mussels that do not open.
• Allow the mussels to cool slightly, and when they are not too hot to touch, remove them from their shells and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spinach and cook just until soft, for one or two minutes. The spinach should remain a bright, vivid green. Immediately drain the spinach and rinse it thoroughly in cold water to set the color. Drain thoroughly, squeezing out any excess liquid. Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper and freshly grated nutmeg and set aside.
• Preheat broiler.
• Prepare the hollandaise: In the top of a double boiler combine the egg yolks and mussel cooking liquid and beat with a whisk over hot but not boiling water until fluffy.
• Add a few spoonfuls of butter to the mixture and whisk continually until the butter has melted and the sauce begins to thicken. Be certain that the water in the bottom of the boiler remains hot but does not boil. Continue adding the butter, bit by bit, stirring constantly.
• Add the salt and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Add several tablespoons of hollandaise to the spinach and toss. Divide the spinach among four six-inch round baking dishes and flatten it into a smooth bed. Sprinkle the mussels evenly over the spinach, then spoon hollandaise sauce over the mussels.
• Broil just until the top is crisp and brown. Serve immediately.

GRATINEED MUSTARD CREAMED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook onions in a large heavy pot of boiling salted water (2 teaspoons salt for 4 quarts water) until just tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain (reserve pot). Cool onions to warm, then peel.
• Melt butter in dry pot over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Whisk in reserved cooking water, milk, and Sherry and cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. Whisk in mustards, nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add onions to sauce and simmer 5 minutes.
• Preheat broiler.
• Transfer creamed onions to baking dish and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until top is golden brown and bubbling, about 3 minutes.

THE BEST ONION GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Break the onion quarters apart to give you little "petals".
• Place these in an A4 sized dish or earthenware oven dish.
• Drizzle with olive oil, add salt and pepper, and toss in the thyme and garlic.
• Mix well, add white wine and cover tightly with two layers of tinfoil.
• Bake for 45 minutes, then remove tinfoil, and put back in oven for 15 minutes until slightly golden.
• Stir in creme fraiche (or sour cream) and sprinkle with cheeses.
• Turn oven down to 350F and put back in oven until cheese is golden and melted, about 15 minutes.
• You can eat right away, or cool it down and flash it under the grill when the guests arrive.
• Enjoy!

WILD MUSHROOM, POTATO & PANCETTA GRATIN

Steps:

• Put the garlic cloves, onion, bay leaves, thyme, double cream and milk in a pan. Bring slowly to the boil over a low heat, partially cover with a lid and cook for 20-30 mins until the onion is tender and the cream mixture slightly thickened. Turn off and leave everything to infuse for 1 hr.
• Strain the cream mixture into a jug (or bowl) and discard the herbs. Put the garlic cloves and onion in a food processor or blender and whizz until smooth - add a drop of the cream if it helps. Stir the paste back into the rest of the cream and season with 2 tsp salt.
• Put the pancetta in a cold frying pan and cook gently, over a low-medium heat so the fat melts into the pan, until the pancetta is really crispy. Lift out with a slotted spoon, add the butter and mushrooms and turn up the heat, frying the mushrooms, until golden and dry.
• Leave the skins on the potatoes and slice as thinly as possible. Grease a large baking dish with a little more butter. Layer up the potato slices, scattering over some of the cooked pancetta, the mushrooms and a little freshly grated nutmeg and pepper as you go. Finish by slowly pouring over the cream so that it settles among all the layers, then scatter over a few more thyme leaves. Cover with foil.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the gratin for 1 hr, then remove the foil and bake for 35-45 mins more until golden and crispy on top. Poke a knife in to check the potatoes are tender, then leave for 10-15 mins to settle, before serving with a salad, if you like.

BAKED ONIONS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• In two batches, saute the onions in the butter in a large frying pan. Cook only until limp. Do not brown or discolor. Deglaze the pan, or remove the onion from the pan and pour in sherry, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to dissolve the brown, toasted onion.
• Mix the onions, the sherry, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and heavy cream together and place in a baking dish. Top with the Swiss cheese and then the parmesan or Romano.
• Bake at 375 until the top is a bit brown and all is bubbling hot, 15 to 20 minutes.

NUTMEG-SCENTED ONION GRATIN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the onions. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes. (The slices will separate.) Drain.
• In a large bowl, toss the onions with the cream and season generously with nutmeg and salt. Spoon into a shallow gratin dish. (The gratin can be prepared several hours in advance, up to this point. Reserve at room temperature.)
• Preheat the broiler.
• Sprinkle the grated cheese over the gratin, place under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and golden. Serve immediately.