Crispy Creamy Fennel Gratin Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated May 15, 2019
20120920-fiaf-fennel-gratin.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

Every knows Gratin Dauphinoise—it's scalloped potatoes. But I wanted something different, something lighter, something with a bit more attitude. Instead of potatoes, I use planks of thinly sliced fennel, cooked simply in cream, and baked under a blanket of breadcrumbs, herbs, and Pecorino Romano. Serve it alongside a steak, or on its own with a green salad. It's light and bright from the fennel, comforting from the cream, and crunchy from the topping—a keeper.

Recipe Details

Crispy Creamy Fennel Gratin Recipe

Active 10 mins
Total 40 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 fennel bulbs, sliced finely by hand, a mandoline, or a food processor (about 1 1/2 quarts sliced fennel)

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh

  • 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese

  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

  1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400°F. In large skillet combine fennel, cream, and water. Season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Pecorino Romano, parsley, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

  2. Bring the fennel mixture to a simmer over high heat, stirring frequently, then transfer to a 2-quart oval casserole dish. Top the fennel with the breadcrumb mixture and place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the topping is golden and crisp, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306Calories
27gFat
14gCarbs
5gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g34%
Saturated Fat 15g76%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 403mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 19mg93%
Calcium 168mg13%
Iron 1mg8%
Potassium 621mg13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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