Smoky Yam Gratin Recipes

BEN NESBITT'S SMOKY AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add flour; cook and stir until foamy, about 2 minutes. Let cool. Whisk in milk over medium heat until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend, onion, and paprika until melted and smooth. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, about 5 minutes.
• Divide potatoes between two 8x12-inch cake pans. Pour 1/2 of sauce over each pan; stir to coat.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and hot, about 1 hour. Top pans with remaining 1/2 cup cheese; bake for an additional 5 minutes.

SWEET POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine cream, butter, and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat and mix in parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
• Arrange 1/2 of the sweet potato slices in the prepared baking dish; cover with 1/2 of the Gruyere cheese. Pour cream mixture on top. Arrange remaining sweet potato slices over the cream. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

SWEET POTATO GRATIN WITH SMOKED CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine the heavy cream and chipotle puree in a small bowl. In an 8 by 8-inch baking dish, arrange a fourth of the sweet potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and pour a fourth of the cream over it. Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cream, forming 4 layers.
• Bake for 1 hour or until the cream has been absorbed and the potatoes are browned. Remove from the oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving.

SMOKY SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• Thaw spinach and drain off any liquid; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400.
• Lightly grease a 1 1/2 qt casserole.
• In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Add the shallots and sautee until soft.
• Add the flour and stir vigorously.
• Slowly whisk in the milk.
• Add the salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Continue to cook and stir constantly until mixture thickens.
• Reduce heat to low and add the shredded smoked Gouda cheese. Stir constantly until melted and do not allow to boil.
• Stir in the thawed, drained spinach.
• Remove saucepan from heat and set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the 2 egg whites until peaks form.
• Immediately gently fold the beaten stiff egg whites into the spinach mixture.
• Pour entire mixture into the casserole.
• Bake, uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until browning on top to desired browness on top.

SMOKY POTATO GRATIN (FOR BBQ)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the water. Add the potato slices and cook until they are slightly softened but not completely tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the potatoes well and let cool.
• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect grilling over medium-high heat.
• Using the side of a chef's knife, smash the garlic cloves and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Continue smashing and scraping the garlic into a paste.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the garlic paste, parsley and thyme, and season with salt and pepper.
• Spray a mesh grill pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place 2 potato slices in the center of the grill pan, then create 2 separate rings of potato slices: Starting with the inner ring, arrange the slices, slightly overlapping the center slices as well as the previous slice, to create a fanned effect. Then form an outer ring of potato slices, slightly overlapping the inner ring.
• Brush the first layer of potatoes with some of the garlic-herb butter and season with salt and pepper. Repeat to create a second layer on top of the first one. Brush the top layer with garlic-herb butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the grill pan to the center of the grill and cover the grill. Cook, basting the potatoes with garlic-herb butter every 10 minutes, until they are tender and browned on top, 35 to 45 minutes.