ESCAROLE GRATIN

Escarole Gratin image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 large heads escarole, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium shallot, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into large pieces

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a colander in a large bowl. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In 2 batches, cook escarole until tender, 7 minutes, then drain in a colander, pressing with a spatula to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium. Cook shallot and garlic until tender, 4 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisking constantly, add milk and cook, whisking, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, 2 minutes. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and stir in escarole. Pour mixture into a 1-quart baking dish.
In a food processor, pulse bread until coarse crumbs form; transfer to a small bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and pour over breadcrumbs, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Top escarole with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 183 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 5 g