Donna Hays Pumpkin Blue Cheese Sage Gratin Recipes

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
• Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of Gruyere and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH & SAGE MACARONI CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss two-thirds of the butternut squash with the olive oil and seasoning, and roast for 20 mins until nearly tender (it will finish cooking later). Chop the remaining squash coarsely, put in a heatproof bowl with 100ml water and cover with cling film. Microwave on High for 8-10 mins until tender. Drain and mash.
• Fry the onion in a knob of butter until softened but not browned, about 5 mins. Stir in the chopped sage and cook for 1 min more, then add the remaining butter to melt. Stir in the flour and mustard powder, and cook for 1 min until it forms a paste. Gradually whisk in splashes of milk (you can add in bigger additions as you go) until you have a smooth sauce. Bubble, stirring constantly, for 3-5 mins until thickened. Take off the heat and whisk in the mashed squash, 200g of the cheddar and half the Parmesan. Season to taste.
• Cook the macaroni following pack instructions. Drain well, then stir into the sauce with the roasted squash. Tip into a baking dish and scatter with the remaining cheese and sage leaves. Can be made up to a day ahead at this point - cool and keep in the fridge. If freezing, don't add the whole sage leaves.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 again. Splash the sage leaves with oil and bake for 40 mins until bubbling and golden on top.

PUMPKIN GRUYèRE GRATIN WITH THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the oil and butter. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until softened and starting to brown, 8 to 10 minutes, tossing occasionally. Transfer to a 3-quart gratin dish and add pumpkin, thyme leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper and toss to combine. Roast until squash is soft, tossing halfway through, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine cream, reserved thyme stems, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer, whisk in cornstarch, and cook for 1 minute. Turn off heat, cover, and let steep about 30 minutes.
• Once squash is tender, remove thyme stems from cream mixture and pour cream over squash. Sprinkle with cheese and then breadcrumbs. Return to oven and cook until cream is bubbling, 5 to 7 minutes. Broil until top is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

PUMPKIN WITH WALNUTS AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place pumpkin in a greased 15x1x1-in. baking pan; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 30-35 minutes or until tender. , In a large skillet, saute onions in remaining oil until tender. Add walnuts; cook 3-5 minutes longer or until toasted., Place pumpkin on a serving platter. Top with onion mixture. Sprinkle with blue cheese and sage.

CHEESE PUMPKIN SOUP WITH SAGE AND APPLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove about 1 cup of seeds from the pumpkin halves. Clean off any pumpkin meat from the seeds before setting them aside.
• Rub the pumpkin halves with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place them seed side down on a sheet tray lined with aluminum foil. Cook in the oven for about 50 minutes or until a sharp knife easily pierces the skin and flesh.
• Meanwhile, cut the carrots and onion into a medium dice and sauté them in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over low heat until tender. Set aside.
• Heat 1 cup of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When it begins to simmer, add 3 to 4 sage leaves at a time, frying them for about 6 to 8 seconds each. Remove the leaves with tongs or a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Continue this process until all the sage is fried. Turn off the heat.
• Immediately place the reserved pumpkin seeds in the leftover, sage-infused oil, for about 20 seconds or until they begin to brown. Pour the contents of the pan into a metal strainer set over a metal bowl.
• Place the seeds on a plate lined with paper towels and sprinkle generously with salt. Set the oil aside to cool.
• When the pumpkin is cooked, remove it from oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Then remove and discard any seeds from the flesh.
• Scoop out the pumpkin meat from one pumpkin half and place it in a blender. Add half of the cooled carrots and onions, and one chopped apple to the blender. Add vegetable stock to the ¾ mark on the blender and close the lid. Blend on low, then gradually increase the speed as the ingredients combine. Pour the contents into a large pot or bowl. Repeat with the remaining sautéed carrots and onions, chopped apple and vegetable stock.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve: ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with pumpkin seeds, 2 to 3 sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved pumpkin-sage oil.

PUMPKIN SAGE PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a medium, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add extra virgin olive oil and brown the sausage, breaking it up.
• Transfer sausage to a paper towel-lined plate, and add the onion and garlic to the pan. Cook over moderate heat until tender but not brown.
• Add the wine and return the sausage to the skillet, continue to cook a couple of minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, heavy cream, sage, cloves, and pumpkin. Bring up to a bubble and simmer until thick, a couple of minutes.
• Add the pasta and cheese tossing to coat the pasta with the sauce.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve and garnish with a sprinkle of chives.

DONNA HAY'S PUMPKIN, BLUE CHEESE & SAGE GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C Brush a 1-litre baking dish with the first lot of butter.
• Mix the breadcrumbs, second lot of butter and sage together and set aside.
• PLace cream, milk and nutmeg in a small saucepan and heat until just boiled, then remove from heat. Stir in crushed garlic.
• Layer pototatoe, pumpkin and onion. Season each layer with salt and pepper and dot with blue cheese. Finish with a layer of potatoe. Pour over cream mixture and top with breadcrumb mix.
• Bake 45 minutes or until potato and pumpkin are tender.