Chard Gratin
- 1 1/2 bunches of chard
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (see page 62)
- 2 teaspoons melted butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, diced
- Salt
- 2 teaspoons flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- A little freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons butter
- Wash and stem: 1 1/2 bunches of chard.
- Save half the stems and slice them thin.
- Bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil and cook the sliced stems for 2 minutes.
- Add the chard leaves and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
- Drain and cool.
- Gently squeeze out the excess liquid from the stems and leaves and coarsely chop them.
- Toss together: 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (see page 62), 2 teaspoons melted butter.
- Toast on a baking sheet in a 350F oven, stirring now and then, until lightly brown, about 10 minutes.
- Melt over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed pan: 1 1/2 tablespoons butter.
- Add: 1 onion, diced.
- Cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the chard and: Salt.
- Cook for 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle with: 2 teaspoons flour.
- Stir well and add: 1/2 cup milk, A little freshly grated nutmeg.
- Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add more milk if the mixture gets too thick.
- The chard should be moist but not floating in liquid.
- Taste and add salt if needed.
- Butter a small baking dish.
- Spread the chard mixture evenly in the dish and dot with: 2 teaspoons butter.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top.
- Bake in a 350F oven until the gratin is golden and bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Substitute 1 1/2 pounds spinach for the chard.
- Wilt the spinach in a pan with a little butter and water.
- Cool and squeeze out the excess liquid, as above.
chard, fresh breadcrumbs, butter, butter, onion, salt, flour, milk, nutmeg, butter
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chard-gratin-387214 (may not work)