Winter Greens Gratin

traca

Well-known member
I made this dish a few weeks ago and it was a knock out. I especially liked it the following day when the greens have had a chance to mellow.

Sausage and Winter Greens Gratin

by Jess Thompson, Edible Seattle

Start to finish: 1 hour

This gratin tastes great room temperature, which means one less think you’ll have to squeeze into the oven at the last minute (for Thanksgiving.)

1 pound sweet or hot bulk Italian Sausage

1 pound green chard

1 pound dinosaur kale

1 pound collard greens

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

Salt and freshly ground pepper

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cold butter

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

2/3 cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 375

Heat a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up as you go until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Break the sausage into small bit-sized pieces and set aside. Reserve any sausage dirppings in the pot.

Meanwhile, cut the tough center ribes out of all the greens, slice them into ¼” thick ribbons, and whash and dry them in a salad spinner. Add the olive oil to the sausage drippints, then put the greens into the pot in batchies, increasing the amount as what’s in the pan cooks down. When all the greens have been incporporated, stir for about 5 minutes until they have begun to soften. Add the broth, cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes stirring once or twice. Take the lid off and cook another 10 minutes or so, until almost no liquid remains at the bottom of the pot. (You want the greens to be fairly dry. If you still have a little liquid left after 15 minutes, just scoop it out.) Season the greens to taste with salt and pepper.

Remove the pot from the heat, add the sausage and stir in the flour until no white remains. Butter a deep 8” square casserole dish or a large gratin dish and transfer the greens to the dish in a roughly even layer. Do with putter, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and drizzle the cream over the whole thing. Bake for 30 minutes until the cream is bubbling and the cheese is browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make ahead: The gratin can be baked, cooled, covered with foil and refrigerated overnight. To reheat, bake (covered for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.)

 
This sounds really good. Is there anything vegetarian that I can use

to replace the flavor of the sausage? DD is now vegetarian and I have to tread a fine line to feed her and my carnivorous husband. She wants to buy and cook her own food (and eat by herself) but she is a Junior in high school, and I want her eating with us while she is still at home.

Where do you find dinosaur kale? I think it may be the black cabbage that my husband's family grew in Madeira, and I'd really like to get some.

 
There are some excellent vegetarian sausages on the market, in our

Safeway they are next to the tofu/tempah etc. Cannot remember the brand now, but think "ranch is in there". There are breakfast, regular and spicy Italian and more. Grain based and yummy! and in the frozen breakfast area, Morningstar Farms are good.
However when I looked at the recipe I thought brown lentils with some onion, garlic, red peppers, thyme and ?? to replace the sausage? I am a recovering vegetarian, so that mode just kicks in?
Also thinking portabellos with sausage seasoning would fit?
Because of some meds, I can't make this now (must limit Vitamin K) but will report back with how it was, I am prepred to glow!
Thanks Traca, Hugs,
Nan

 
Wow. I can eat sausage, cream and cheese and still feel virtuous about the greens!

 
It is called Lacinato kale in my neck of the woods, and is available in the organic section

in produce. It is in season right now.

 
Also called Tuscan kale, black kale, cavolo nero, black cabbage, Tuscan cabbage. Look for

the long, narrow, dark-dark green, crinkly leaves.

 
You could even leave it out...maybe add some crushed red pepper for

a kick. Basically the sausage helps add flavor & spice.

As for the greens, basically, I grabbed anything that was a hearty green and it works just fine. You want braising greens (which Trader Joe's sells in a big bag, I found out AFTER I made this dish...)

Enjoy!

 
A keeper! Made this last night to go with a pork roast. Thought it would be great as

a winter supper with a poached egg on top.

 
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