Creamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Gratin

Sharon123's Note:

I just got back from a quick trip to Miami, Fla. and had something very similar to this at a restaurant called Captain's Tavern. It was so good, I had to try to find the recipe. Here's one gleaned from Gourmet magazine, Nov. 2006 via Epicurious. Enjoy! This is one big casserole, but at the restaurant it was in individual dishes. You may add the cheese between each layer or just use it to top, or leave it out if you prefer! On the website, this has 92 wonderful reviews! this is even better the next day. You can half this recipe and cook in a 9x9" pan. This is so good, serve to company and for the holidays. This recipe calls for slicing raw squash but to make it easier to cut, microwave for 3-5 minutes, or lightly steam or bake and then cut in pieces. The recipe says it will serve 8-10 people but some said it served 12!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 8

• 3 -3 1/2 lbs fresh spinach, stems discarded (or 3-4 packages frozen leaf spinach, thawed-10 oz.)
• 3 -5 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus additional for greasing pan-or use cooking spray to grease the pan)
• 3/4 cup finely chopped onion (1 small)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper (lemon pepper is good too)
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup heavy cream (or use 1/2 and 1/2 or use evaporated milk)
• 4 lbs butternut squash, peeled, quartered, and seeded (2 large)
• 1/3-3/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, finely grated
• 1/2 cup gruyere cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. If using fresh spinach, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pot over high heat. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. You may skip this step if you like, I don't think it's really necessary.
2. Thoroughly squeeze cooked fresh or thawed frozen spinach in small handfuls to remove excess moisture(try to get it absolutely dry), then coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
3. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch heavy skillet over medium low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes(you can cook it till caramalized if you like). Add onion mixture to spinach along with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cream and stir to combine.
4. Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches; not glass-I think you could use glass, just be careful when broiling-that's the reason it's not recommended).
5. Cut squash to separate bulb section from solid neck section, then cut pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices with slicer or food processor. To make the squash easier to cut, microwave for 3-5 minutes.
6. Layer squash and spinach mixture in baking dish, using about one fifth of squash and one fourth of spinach for each layer, beginning and ending with squash. Sprinkle each layer of squash evenly with cheeses and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then cover directly with a sheet of parchment or wax paper(or use glass lid). Bake until squash is tender and filling is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. If you like, you can use individual baking dishes, just note shorter cooking time. I haven't tried baking it individually so cook times are estimated.
7. Remove paper and bake gratin until browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes, or broil 3 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!
8. Note:.
9. If making individual gratins, bake 20-30 minutes.
10. Also, for a shortcut, use 3 packages of creamed spinach(cooked) and skip the cream.
11. Some reviewers added a little jalapeno(or chipotle peppers and sliced almonds on top.

Reviews

[Chef #903907]

Wonderfull recipe! I left out the swiss cheese and added mushrooms to this and it was SO good! I will make this again and again!

[iknitok]

Yum! I used evaporated skim milk and cholesterol-lowering margarine, along with silverbeet (swiss chard) sliced finely. And I used the gruyere cheese. I've never thought of slicing butternut in this manner; it's yummy. Also tried it with gold sweet potato... just as yummy and I'll have to stick to this, as it's also low G.I. this way, instead of medium. Fantastic basic recipe, though; thanks heaps. It's fast becoming a staple recipe for our week! Beverley.

[Lori Mama]

Very nice dish. I scaled back on the amounts to serve 4 people. I did add the optional Gruyere cheese and I'm glad I did. It gave it that little extra flavour. I chose the fresh spinach. Made for New Kids on the Block Tag. :)