Kale and Butternut Squash Gratin

Perfect for autumn entertaining of all sorts, our gratin combines earthy kale and sweet butternut squash with lots of cheesy goodness. Served as it is here, in a copper gratin dish, it makes an undeniably beautiful side dish for the Thanksgiving table. Use Tuscan kale, also known as cavolo nero or lacinato black kale, for this dish.

Kale and Butternut Squash Gratin

1 bunch Tuscan kale, stemmed and leaves chopped

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) (2 oz./60 g) unsalted butter

1 shallot, finely chopped

1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz./45 g) all-purpose flour

1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) chicken stock

1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) heavy cream

2 1/2 cups (10 oz./315 g) grated Gruyère cheese

2 Tbs. chopped fresh sage

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

3 lb. (1.5 kg) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut crosswise into half-moons 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick

1/2 cup (1 oz./30 g) panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

1/2 cup (2 oz./60 g) grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat an oven to 375°F (190°C).

In a large sauté pan over medium heat, combine the kale and 1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) water and cook,
stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted, about 4 minutes. Drain the kale, transfer to a bowl and set aside.

In the same pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the stock and cream and cook until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Gruyère and 1 Tbs. of the sage and stir until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

In a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-cm) gratin dish, layer half each of the kale, squash and sauce, then repeat with the remaining kale, squash and sauce. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake until the squash is fork-tender, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the panko, Parmesan and the remaining 1 Tbs. sage.

Uncover the pan and sprinkle the gratin evenly with the panko mixture. Bake until the top is golden brown and the gratin is bubbling at the edges, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes before
serving. Serves 6 to 8.

Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen