Sweet Potato And Pancetta Gratin Food

SWEET POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and gingersnap crumbs and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes; set aside.
• Combine the heavy cream, maple syrup, thyme, allspice, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the cayenne in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
• Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Spread a single layer of sweet potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish and pour about one-third of the cream mixture on top. Repeat to make 2 more layers of potatoes and cream. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until the cream is bubbling and the potatoes are lightly browned and tender when pierced with a knife, 40 to 50 more minutes, sprinkling the breadcrumb mixture over the potatoes during the last 5 minutes of baking.

SWEET POTATO AND PANCETTA GRATIN

Steps:

• Grease 8 x 8 pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Slice sweet potato into thin rounds, about 1/8 inch thick. Not paper thin, but evenly sliced. I use a mandoline.
• Heat cream and butter in a saucepan until simmering. Add sweet potatoes, salt and pepper. Cook until just tender or until most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes.
• Cook pancetta in small, nonstick pan, until crispy. Remove, place on paper towel and caramelize onions in pancetta fat on low heat, around 10 minutes.
• Layer sweet potatoes on bottom of baking dish, add pancetta and onions on top (or carefully stir them all together). Sprinkle top liberally with cheddar cheese.
• Bake for 15 - 20 minutes uncovered until cheese bubbles.

SWEET POTATO AND GRUYèRE GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and generously butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or shallow gratin dish. Butter a piece of foil large enough to cover top of pan. Sprinkle Parmesan all over bottom of pan.
• In a medium pot, bring cream, sage, rosemary, garlic, nutmeg and a pinch of salt to a simmer. Simmer until reduced by 1/4, about 10 minutes.
• In a large, heatproof bowl, whisk eggs just enough to break them up. Slowly pour hot cream into eggs to combine, whisking while pouring, and reserve the mixture.
• Meanwhile, using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds.
• Place 1 layer of potatoes in the pan, slightly overlapping as you go, using about a third of the slices. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste, then pour 1/3 of the egg mixture over potatoes. Top with 1/2 cup Gruyère. Repeat with another layer of potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, pepper and 1/3 egg mixture. Top with 1/2 cup Gruyère. Top with remaining potatoes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, and remaining egg mixture (but not the remaining cheese). Press down to compact the potatoes. Cover with foil and bake until potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes, then remove foil, sprinkle top with remaining 2/3 cup Gruyère and bake until browned and bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then serve.