French Friday: Mushroom and Greens Gratin
It is very gray, rainy day here in Brooklyn. So gray in fact, that if I walked up to the corner of 15th Street and Prospect Park West, where the street curves into a traffic circle and the dun-brown façade of a large apartment building curves along with it, I might even think I were in Paris. Perhaps because I had just had an engagement ring slipped on my finger, but I think of that time in Paris as being so alive: my senses wide open, and at the same time, a kind of quiet consideration coated our days, a reserved thoughtfulness. Maybe that’s just what rain streaming down window panes does to me, though––this morning perfect evidence.
For this week’s French Friday, I offer up a recipe that can be described in one word: wonderful. It is rich with the flavor of rosemary and musky mushrooms and still subtle at the same time. A couple of eggs in the ingredients list make this lovely as a brunch dish or for dinner on a cold and rainy night like this one. Though at our house, I happen to know Chinese delivery is on the menu tonight. What can I say? After a week of cooking quick weeknight dinners (I have so many successes to share!), I’m ready to take the night off.
Let’s talk about this weekend (and isn’t it funny how a short week like the one we Americans just had often feel the longest? I woke up yesterday morning certain it was Friday. Ouch.), and revisit my favorite game of looking-forward and casting aside: What are you doing this weekend? What aren’t you doing?
For such a simply and somewhat unassumingly titled dish, I feel compelled to repeat myself: this is really wonderful. It is the kind of cooking that is so much more than the sum of its parts, and makes you feel grateful that you turned on the oven and tied your apron strings: it was very much worth it.
Because I am lazy, I skipped a step: I did not blanch my greens, instead adding them to the mushrooms several minutes earlier in the sauté process. If you would like to follow suit, add the greens after the mushrooms have sauteed for about 5 minutes; continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes, then add the rosemary and garlic. Works for me.
Mushroom and Greens Gratin
from the New York Times
Serves 4
1 1/2 pounds greens, such as chard, stemmed and washed (2 bunches)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (1/2 cup)
1 ounce Parmesan, grated (1/4 cup)
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt abundantly and add the greens. Cook for one to four minutes, depending on the type of green (sturdy greens take longer), until just tender. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, then drain and squeeze out water. Chop coarsely.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, and add the shallots or onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, three to five minutes. Add the mushrooms, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about eight minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, and the rosemary and garlic. Cook for another minute. Add the greens, and stir together for another minute. Adjust seasonings.
Whisk together the eggs and milk. Add salt and pepper, and stir in the cheeses and mushroom/greens mixture. Scrape into the baking dish. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until browned and sizzling. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.
Sara: You read my mind! I was scouring your past recipes searching for just the right dish to make this evening or to prepare for a snuggly brunch tomorrow (your french bread casserole is one of my favorites!)
Happy Friday to you and thank you for sharing this delightful recipe.2 years ago
I’m so glad, Sara! I am in a bind myself because I want to make something special yet healthy for a newly vegetarian friend who is coming over tomorrow night. Perhaps this will inspire a future French Friday recipe!
And thank you for reminding me about that casserole recipe. So, so good.2 years ago
Ells: I love a green gratin! My fave green to use is beet greens. Then serve the roasted beets on the side. Heavenly!2 years ago
Ooh, that’s a fantastic idea!2 years ago
Brie.: sounds heavenly – and you’re right – paris has some special kind of magic – even when it’s raining.
this weekend: our engagement party! diy-tastic, a room filled with our closest of closest, and mini food bites – what’s not to love?2 years ago
Congrats, Brie! That sounds fabulous!
As for me:
Doing: Reading in bed with coffee. Going to yoga. Having a couple besties over for dinner. And book club!
Not doing: Running errands, stressing about work or the future, or wearing uncomfortable shoes!2 years ago
ellen: Sarah –
Your blog has been a wonderful find in this new year of 2011! I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed stopping by and reading your posts.
As for my weekend, I will be starting another new year of sorts, with my 47th birthday tomorrow. I tried saving Margaret Roach’s book for a weekend read, but after picking it up yesterday, I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for leading me to that wonderful find!
I may just cancel plans for dinner out tomorrow and have my friends in for the mushroom and spinach gratin instead — thank you!2 years ago
Christine S.: That looks incredibly yummy!
Doing: Everything possible to clean my house top-to-bottom and help my daughter and comrades film a short for a local high school competition (4500 min. from breaking seal on envelope to turning in the fully writing, directed, edited piece on Oscar Sunday:).
Not doing: seeing the love of my life! he’s away until Tuesday night:(2 years ago
Cadi: Well THIS is going to be breakfast tomorrow morning – thanks for another great recipe Sarah!
Doing: Dinner with friends tonight, surprise party tomorrow night, crab feed on Sunday night. Boycotting the dishes. Staying warm with a fire in the fireplace in the meantime as we’re expecting some frigid weather (and possibly snow!) in the wine country.
Not Doing: Getting up early, doing the laundry, running errands or overdoing it at the many parties we have this weekend!
Have a great one!2 years ago
domestikate: So far my weekend has involved a stupid fight with my husband about what to do this weekend! Maybe I’ll cook him this amazing sounding dinner as a peace offering – we do so love mushrooms!2 years ago
Katie: This does look yummy and comforting. I am SO ready for the weekend.
Doing: Sleeping in, making your molasses cookies, reading, making enchiladas, dinner with some new friends.
Not doing: housework (except a little laundry), creating webpages, juggling three bags on the T – in other words, NOT commuting. Hooray!2 years ago
Lilly: I’ve been reading your blog for a while (first time commenting thought) and it’s such a treat during the week!
Doing: working in our garden and barn, riding, dinner with friends in historic downtown Hillsborough.
Not Doing: thinking about aviation parts (a stressful project I’m doing for my Dad), worrying about work (muy stressful job in real estate).2 years ago
Kristine: Yummy! This looks delicious, although now I have a craving for Chinese take-out myself!
This weekend I’m going to a birthday party I don’t really feel like attending , but there will be cake, snuggling with my sweetie and gearing up for the Oscars. I’m going to wear a bright green face mask, give my hair a hot oil treatment, guzzle some wine and heckle the television.2 years ago
Nancy Schaub: Sarah, I have never developed a taste for mushrooms but this sounds so good, that I may just have to try it. Thank you for all you share with us. We have had a day of a lot of rain, and I am sure, some flooding later, but I LOVE the rain. Is there a better time to snuggle down in the covers, or enjoy a warm and heaty meal?2 years ago
Leili Learning Life: This sounds AMAZING!2 years ago
Tami -- Teacher Goes Back to School: not doing: working. did all my prep before i left school friday.
doing: seeing leili learning life and just a titch – love those sacto blogging chicks!
revisiting goal charts, grocery shopping with a new attitude, cooking, reading, weights, restorative yoga (taking, not teaching!), figuring easy out dairy/wheat free recipes, watching social network, dinner out with the hubs, fairy convention (studio staff meeting), snuggling.
i <3 weekends.2 years ago
Su-Lin: That looks just gorgeous! And sooo delicious on a weekend morning!2 years ago
Sam: I felt like Brooklyn was so tropical this weekend…funny this kind of rain makes you feel like you are somewhere else. Now, of course, looking out my window I am seeing Paris. Lovely, post and I want to try this omelette for lunch.2 years ago
jillian m. {coffee, light and sweet}: I tried this recipe for dinner last night and it was ah-mazing! So delicious and comforting. It’s going to be a dinner staple for sure. Thank you for sharing this!1 year ago