Creamed Kale Au Gratin

By jargrr

Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• 1 small Yellow Onion (small diced)
• 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
• 16 ounces Tuscan or Dinosaur Kale (sliced thinly
• 8 about 8 cup chopped)
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• For the Béchamel
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 tablespoons Flour
• 1 cup whole Milk
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• Freshly Grated Nutmeg
• For the Breadcrumb Topping
• 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
• Zest of 1/2 Lemon
• 1/4 cup Melted Butter

Details

Servings 1
Cooking time 60mins
Adapted from abc.go.com

Preparation

Step 1

1

Olive Oil
1 small Yellow Onion (small diced)
2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
16 ounces Tuscan or Dinosaur Kale (sliced thinly, about 8 cup chopped)
Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

For the Béchamel
2 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons Flour
1 cup whole Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
Freshly Grated Nutmeg

For the Breadcrumb Topping
1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
Zest of 1/2 Lemon
1/4 cup Melted Butter

Preheat oven to 375°F.

2

Place a large sauté pan over medium heat and add a film of Olive Oil. When the Oil is warmed, add the Onion with a pinch of Salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until the Onions have softened and then add Garlic, cooking until it becomes fragrant. Next add all of the Kale, stirring to coat with the Olive Oil. Cook, stirring occasionally until the Kale has wilted and become dark green. Set aside.

3

While your Kale is cooking, place a heavy bottomed sauce pot over medium-high heat and add the Butter. When the Butter has melted whisk in the Flour. Cook for a few seconds until the Butter is absorbed by the Flour and you have a wet sand mixture. Next whisk in the Milk and Cream and season with a good amount of Salt, Freshly Ground Black Pepper and some freshly Grated Nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken. Reduce the heat to low and cook for another 20 minutes or so.

4

In a small mixing bowl combine the Breadcrumbs, Parsley, Lemon Zest and melted Butter. Set aside.

5

Transfer Kale into a baking dish. Pour the Béchamel on top and then top with an even layer of the Breadcrumb mixture. Place in the oven uncovered for about 20 minutes, until everything is warmed through and bubbly. Finish under the broiler for a minute or 2 until the Breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.

Helpful Tips:
1. Dark greens like kale hold up to the cooking process longer than spinach
2. Start the onions first. If the garlic cooks to long, it will burn and turn bitter.
3. Start with 2x as much greens as you will serve since it cooks down.
4. Strain the kale so the gratin doesn’t become watery.
5. Use this garlic spread on beef, chicken, and fish