Frugal Gourmets Baked Onions Au Gratin Recipes

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.

ONIONS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Cut onions into 1/2-in. slices; saute in butter until tender. Place in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. , In a small bowl, stir the flour, broth, cream, salt and pepper until smooth; pour over onions. Sprinkle with cheeses. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and mixture is bubbly.

FOUR-ONION GRATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, large onions, shallots and garlic and sauté until all are tender, about 20 minutes. Add baby onions and cook 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Mix in 2 cups whipping cream. Boil until cream is thickened to sauce consistency, about 10 minutes. Transfer vegetable-cream mixture to 6-cup shallow baking dish. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Return mixture to room temperature before continuing.)
• Preheat oven to 425°F Sprinkle breadcrumbs over onion mixture. Bake until breadcrumbs are golden brown and onion mixture bubbles, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

GRATIN OF ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan mix together the onions, stock, grits, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and cook gently for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring the mixture two or three times to prevent it from sticking to the pan, until the onions and grits are very tender.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 6-cup gratin dish with about 1/4 teaspoon of the butter and add the remainder of the butter to the onion mixture. Using a hand blender or a food processor, puree the onion-and-grits mixture until it is smooth, and then pour it into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with the cheese.
• Place the gratin in the oven for about 15 minutes if the mixture is still warm when it goes into the oven, or about 30 minutes if the mixture has cooled. If the top needs additional browning, place the gratin under a hot broiler for a few minutes before serving.

MUSHROOM AND ONION GRATINS

Steps:

• In a skillet cook the mushrooms in 2 1/2 tablespoons of the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are softened and most of the liquid they give off has evaporated. Stir in the flour and cook the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes.
• In each of six 1 1/2-cup gratin dishes layer the onions, the remaining butter, cut into bits, the mushroom mixture, and salt and pepper to taste, beginning and ending with a layer of onions, and pour 1 tablespoon of the cream over the top of each gratin. In a small bowl combine well the Gruyère and the bread crumbs and sprinkle the mixture over the cream. (Alternatively, the gratin, layered in the same manner, may be prepared in one 2-quart gratin dish.) Bake the gratins in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the onions are tender and the tops are golden. The gratins may be prepared 3 hours in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated in a preheated 400°F. oven for 5 minutes, or until they are heated through.