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Gratin de courgettes
Gratin de courgettes: French courgettes baked in a light egg and cream custard with cheese
Gratin de courgettes is the summer family gratin of French home kitchens, made from July to September when gardens and markets overflow with courgettes, and served alongside grilled meat or simply with a green salad. The courgettes are sliced and softened first so they lose their water, then baked in a light custard of eggs and cream under grated cheese until puffed and golden. Gruyère and Comté are traditionally made with animal rennet; use a vegetarian hard cheese if you prefer. The common mistake is skipping the pre-cooking, which floods the dish with watery juices. Chef's tip: let the gratin rest for 10 minutes before cutting; the custard firms up and slices cleanly.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb courgettessliced 5 mm thick
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garliccrushed
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan). Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a wide pan over a medium-high heat and cook the 2 ¼ lb courgettes with the 1 clove garlic and half the ⅜ tsp salt for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until soft and lightly coloured. Tip into a sieve to drain for 5 minutes.
10 minStep 2: Whisk the 3 eggs, ¾ cup single cream or crème fraîche, 1 pinch ground nutmeg, ½ tsp black pepper, the rest of the ⅜ tsp salt and half the 1 ⅜ oz grated Gruyère, Comté or vegetarian hard cheese.
3 minStep 3: Spread the courgettes in a buttered 1.5 litre baking dish, scatter with 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves and pour over the custard.
2 minStep 4: Sprinkle with the rest of the 1 ⅜ oz grated Gruyère, Comté or vegetarian hard cheese and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the custard is set in the middle, puffed and golden brown on top.
30 minStep 5: Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does gratin de courgettes take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of courgettes?
- Cucumber, same weight (raw dishes only).
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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