This cheesy chard stem gratin is delicious served with mustard dressed chard greens. Take a bite, close your eyes and be transported to our gourmet getaway.
butter, for greasing (approx. 20g)
750g of Swiss chard
250ml of milk
250ml of double cream
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 bay leaves
1kg potatoes, scrubbed and finely sliced (there’s no need to peel them)
3 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked
25g of Gruyère, grated
25g of Parmesan, or vegetarian equivalent, finely grated
20g of fresh breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp Dijon mustard, heaped
1 tbsp of white wine vinegar
3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
1. Preheat an oven to 200°C/gas mark 6 and butter the inside of an ovenproof dish (approx. 30cm in diameter).
2. Remove the thick chard stems from the leaves and cut into 2.5cm pieces. Set aside the leaves until later.
3. Pour the milk and cream into a sauté pan or skillet with the garlic and bay leaves and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for a few minutes, then season generously with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
4. Tip in the chard stems, potatoes and picked thyme leaves and stir to combine.
5. Tip everything into the buttered dish and shake it a bit until everything is in a fairly even layer, rather than a mound.
6. Mix the grated cheeses with the breadcrumbs and scatter over the top. Grind some black pepper over and cover the top of the dish with buttered foil. Bake for 40 minutes, remove the foil, then put the uncovered gratin back in the oven for another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and the top is golden and bubbling. Leave the dish to sit on the side while you make the mustardy greens.
7. Roughly chop the chard leaves and boil in salted water for a few minutes, or until they have wilted but still retain some bite.
8. In the meantime, whisk all of the mustard vinaigrette ingredients together. Taste for mustard, seasoning and acidity, and adjust if necessary.
9. Once the chard leaves are cooked, drain well, then toss the hot greens in the vinaigrette.
10. Serve the chard stem and potato gratin with the mustard-dressed chard greens on the side.
Recipe inspiration and image courtesy of Great British Chefs.
We love indulging our guests in gourmet getaway experiences and we hope to one day have you at the umSisi table!