Root Vegetable Gratin with Gruyere

Root Vegetable Gratin with Gruyere

1	Tbs	unsalted butter
3		garlic cloves, minced
3	cups	heavy cream
		Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4	tsp	freshly grated nutmeg
1	lb	parsnips, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick

1	lb	sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch
		thick
1	lb	celery root, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick
8	oz	Gruyère cheese, shredded
1	Tbs	minced fresh thyme
3	Tbs	minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

1	Preheat an oven to 400°F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish.
2	In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg and heat just until bubbles form around the edges of the pan, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
3	Arrange a layer of parsnips, slightly overlapping, in the prepared dish. Arrange a layer of sweet potatoes on top, then a layer of celery root. Pour half of the cream mixture over the celery root, and sprinkle half of the cheese, thyme and parsley on top. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
4	Cover the dish with aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil and lightly press the gratin down with a spatula. Continue baking until the vegetables are tender and the top is golden brown, 15 to 30 minutes more. Let the gratin stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Enriched with cream and Gruyère cheese, this hearty gratin is a delicious accompaniment to our crown roast of pork (see related recipe at left). A mandoline makes fast work of cutting the vegetables into thin, uniform slices.