Indulge in the culinary delight of Millet and Greens Gratin, a wholesome and flavorful dish that combines the nutty goodness of millet with the vibrant flavors of fresh greens. This vegetarian gratin is a symphony of textures, with crispy edges, a creamy interior, and a cheesy golden crust. Millet, an ancient grain known for its nutritional value, takes center stage, providing a hearty base for this delectable dish. Various types of greens, such as spinach, kale, or Swiss chard, add a pop of color and a boost of vitamins and minerals. The gratin is enveloped in a luscious sauce made with coconut milk, vegetable broth, and a blend of aromatic spices, creating a symphony of flavors. A sprinkle of cheese adds a touch of indulgence, while breadcrumbs provide a crispy contrast. With three variations – Millet and Greens Gratin with Coconut Milk, Millet and Greens Gratin with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, and Millet and Greens Gratin with Spinach and Artichoke – this recipe offers a range of culinary experiences to satisfy diverse palates.
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OVEN-BAKED MILLET
Deborah Madison, in her wonderful new cookbook, "Vegetable Literacy," put a new spin on millet that may have changed my millet-cooking life forever. She suggests cooking the grain as you would a polenta, which it kind of resembles when it's cooked, with most of the grains breaking down to a mush while others remain crunchy. I'd always been a bit flummoxed by this uneven cooking and the texture of the broken-down millet (it's a bit chalky). But serving it like a polenta makes perfect sense. You can serve it soft, right after it's cooked, or let it set up and then slice it and crisp the slices or use them in gratins, as I do with cornmeal polenta. I was so taken with this idea that I decided to cook the millet in the oven, the way I do for my easy cornmeal polenta, after first toasting it in the pan. It worked beautifully.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories side dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 to 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the millet. Toast, stirring or shaking the pan, until the grains begin to pop and smell toasty, sort of like popcorn. Add the water or stock and the salt.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven. Set the timer for 25 minutes and give the millet a stir. Bake for another 25 minutes. There should still be some liquid in the pan. Stir in the butter and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the millet is thick and no more water or stock is visible in the pan. Remove from the oven; if desired, stir in the Parmesan. Serve right away, topped with tomato sauce or a stew. Alternatively, allow to cool, either in the pan or spread in a small sheet pan, baking dish or cake pan; when it is solid, cut into squares, slices or rounds, which you can grill, fry or layer in a gratin.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 169, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 466 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
THREE-GREENS GRATIN
This is a Provençal style gratin, or tian, dense with greens and bound with rice and egg. You can play around with the mix of greens; switch out beet greens for spinach, or some of the chard for kale (kale will require a minute or two more of blanching). I have kept the seasonings to a minimum as you have plenty to prep, but a Provençal cook would probably add chopped parsley and perhaps savory or rosemary. You won't be using the chard ribs here, but keep them to use in other dishes.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield Serves 6 generously
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the greens. When the water comes to a boil salt generously and add chard. Blanch for 1 minute, until just wilted, and using a skimmer or a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and squeeze out excess water, taking the chard up by the handful. Chop medium-fine and set aside. You should have about 2 cups.
- Bring the water back to a boil and blanch beet greens for 1 minute; if using spinach, blanch for 20 seconds only. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop medium-fine. You should have about 1 cup (less for spinach).
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes, and add leeks. Cook, stirring, until leeks begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes, and add garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add cabbage and thyme. Cook, stirring often, until cabbage collapses in pan, about 5 minutes, and add another generous pinch of salt. Continue to cook the mixture until the cabbage is tender, sweet, and beginning to color, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped blanched greens and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir together for about a minute and remove from the heat.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl and add a pinch of nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in rice or farro, vegetable mixture and cheeses. Scrape into prepared baking dish. If using breadcrumbs, toss with remaining tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle over the top. If not using breadcrumbs drizzle remaining oil over the top.
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until top is lightly browned. Remove from heat and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 302, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 1049 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MUSTARD GREEN GRATIN
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories side-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Remove any large stems from the greens and wash them thoroughly; do so in a sink with at least 5 inches of water. Moving the leaves around in the water and allowing them to sit for a few minutes to allow the sand or dirt to fall to the bottom of the sink. Once clean, roughly chop the greens. You should have 1 pound finished greens once they are stemmed. (Weigh the greens after stemming, but before washing.) After washing the greens, place them in a salad spinner to thoroughly dry them.
- Butter a 9 by 11-inch or 2 1/2-quart baking dish and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large, 13 by 11-inch roasting pan set over 2 burners on medium heat, melt the butter in 1 corner of the pan. Add the garlic, mushrooms, and a pinch of salt and cook until the mushrooms give up their liquid, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Add the greens and cook until they are wilted, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. The greens will reduce to less than 1/4 of their original volume and begin to look like thawed, frozen spinach. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the greens to the egg and cheese mixture and stir to thoroughly combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish, top with the crackers, place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve.
SPRING GREENS AND LEEK GRATIN
So you want to eat all the seasonal greens but can't face another salad? Cream (and butter, and cheese, and toasted torn bread) to the rescue. This gratin incorporates three whole bunches of greens; we use a combination of arugula and spinach, but you can substitute others, such as dandelion greens or lamb's quarters.
Provided by David Tamarkin
Categories Casserole/Gratin Butter Leek Arugula Spinach Coriander Lemon Milk/Cream Parmesan Bread Vegetarian Side Spring Entertaining
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in an ovenproof 10" skillet (such as cast iron) over medium-low heat. Add leeks and ramp bulbs and cook, stirring often, until leeks are softened, about 10 minutes. (Try to keep the leeks from browning.)
- Add ramp greens, arugula, and spinach in big handfuls, cooking and wilting one batch before adding the next. (At first it will look like all those greens will never fit in the skillet, but keep at it-you'll see!) When all greens are wilted (this may take 15-20 minutes), add coriander, salt, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, until spices are incorporated, about 1 minute. Add lemon zest, cream, and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Continue to cook, stirring, until cream has slightly reduced, about 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
- Toss bread with oil in a large bowl to coat. Arrange bread on top of vegetables, taking care not to cover the greens completely (you want them to peek through here and there). Sprinkle remaining 2 Tbsp. Parmesan over.
- Transfer to oven and bake gratin until bread is golden brown and crisp, cheese is melted, and cream is bubbling, 35-45 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Tips:
- Choose the right type of millet. For this recipe, it is best to use a hulled millet, which has been dehusked and has a shorter cooking time.
- Rinse the millet thoroughly before cooking. This will help to remove any dirt or debris.
- Cook the millet according to the package directions. Be sure to use a ratio of 1 cup millet to 2 cups water.
- Use a variety of greens. For this recipe, collard greens, kale, and spinach are used, but you can use any type of greens that you like.
- Sauté the greens until they are wilted. This will help to bring out their flavor and make them easier to digest.
- Use a flavorful cheese. For this recipe, a combination of Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses is used, but you can use any type of cheese that you like.
- Bake the gratin until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will take about 25 minutes.
- Let the gratin cool slightly before serving. This will help to prevent it from falling apart.
Conclusion:
This millet and greens gratin is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is packed with nutrients and flavor, and it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting way to cook millet, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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