Vegetable Gratin Provencal Recipes

VEGETABLE GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large saute pan set over medium heat, add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, add the onions and saute until translucent, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add the tomatoes and cook until they start to give off their liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and season with salt and pepper. Add the sugar and cook until there is almost no liquid left, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay the eggplant and zucchini out on a flat surface and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.
• In another large saute pan set over medium high heat, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil just starts to smoke, add the eggplant in 1 layer and cook just until golden brown on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. You might need to do this in batches. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Blot the top with additional paper towels.
• In the same pan, add more olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil just starts to smoke, add the zucchini in 1 layer and saute until just browned on each side, about 1 minute per side. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
• In a shallow roasting pan or baking dish, spread half of the tomato sauce evenly over the bottom. Begin layering the eggplant and zucchini along the outside of the baking dish so they are overlapping slightly. Continue until the pan is full and the eggplant and zucchini is used. Cover the top with the remaining tomato sauce, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top, covering completely.
• Place the baking dish inside a large baking dish. Pour hot water into the larger baking dish about half way up the sides to make a water bath. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.

GARDEN VEGETABLE GRATIN

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Place the slices in a bowl, cover with cool water and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the shallots, carrot, zucchini and peas. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and mace. Stir well to warm through. Remove from the heat.
• Layer the potatoes and vegetable mixture in a 10-cup gratin or 9-by-13-inch baking dish by first blotting some potato slices on a paper towel, then layering them across the bottom of the dish. Add some of the vegetable mixture, spread it over the slices, then blot dry more slices and add them as another layer. Keep layering the casserole, like a lasagna, ending with a layer of potato slices.
• Whisk the broth and cream in a large bowl. Pour it over the contents of the baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, basting occasionally, until it is golden and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2 hours.

PROVENCAL VEGETABLE GRATIN FROM FOOD NETWORK KITCHENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly grease a 7 by 11-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium low heat.
• Add onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon of the salt.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, until completely softened and cooked but not browned.
• Stir in the basil and thyme. Spread on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Toss the sliced vegetables with the remaining olive oil and salt, and pepper.
• With the long side of the baking dish facing you, alternate the sliced vegetables in compact upright rows on top of the onion mixture.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake until the vegetables are softened, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Uncover and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Continue baking until cheese begins to brown, about 20 minutes or so. Serve hot or at room temperature.

VEGETABLES PROVENCALE

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, saute onion in oil until tender. Stir in zucchini, green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the vegetables are almost tender. Stir in tomatoes; heat through.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley.

ROOT VEGETABLE GRATIN FROM REYNOLDS WRAP®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with two long sheets of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil, overlapping them in opposing directions so you make a cross, with plenty of foil at each end to eventually fold over into the center. Lightly spray with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together cream, shallot and garlic. Add parsnips, sweet potato and turnip and carefully toss together until all the pieces are well coated. In another mixing bowl combine 1 cup of the grated cheese, green onion, and thyme and toss together.
• To assemble, place a single layer of cream-coated root vegetable pieces onto the foil-lined baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese mixture over the surface. Repeat with another layer of vegetables, salt and pepper and cheese mixture and continue with this pattern until all the ingredients have been used (finishing with a layer of vegetables).
• Bring each side of the excess foil hanging over the baking sheet together and seal tightly, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Bake gratin in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until vegetables are fork tender. Open foil carefully by cutting along top fold with a sharp knife, allowing steam to escape; then open top of foil.
• Uncover gratin and sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Place gratin under a broiler and broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until cheese has melted and the top has browned slightly. Allow gratin to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting up and serving.