SWEET POTATO AND KALE GRATIN

Sweet Potato and Kale Gratin image

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed and peeled
1 butternut squash, peeled or an acorn squash
1 1/2 - 2 bunches kale (or chard, spinach, etc for other braising greens
1 white or yellow onion
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Flour
1 3/4 cups milk, cream or combination
1 tablespoon Garlic
2 teaspoons Thyme
1/2 teaspoons Nutmet
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded or some soft white cheese

Steps:

Turn oven to 400. If you haven't done it yet, scrub and peel the sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Slice into 1/4"-1/2" thick slices. Bring a shallow pot of salted water to a boil, and par-cook the potatoes and squash for about 15 min to soften a bit (they will continue to cook in the oven, so don't overcook here or they'll fall apart.)
Wash and tear your kale or chard into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the onion and then heat up 1 tbsp of the butter. Begin to cook the onion in the butter, about 3-5 min. Add in your salt as it softens. Add in the kale in batches, covering with a lid in between additions and stirring occasionally, until totally wilted (about 5-7 more min, depending on how tough it is.)
Saute the sliced kielbasa
Heat up the milk/cream and add in the minced garlic, making sure it doesn't boil. Melt the remaining 2 tbsp of butter over medium heat in another pot and then sprinkle in flour-- whisk to make a paste. Add in nutmeg and thyme and turn the heat to low. Start to stir in the milk/cream/garlic, whisking all the while, to make a thick sauce. Turn off heat. Stir in the grated cheese and about 1/2 tsp pepper
Butter the bottom of a casserole dish. On the bottom layer, place half of your rounds of sweet potato and butternut squash. Next, about half of the sautéed kale. Then half of the parsley, and then half of your cheesy béchamel sauce. Repeat all layers one more time, ending with cheese sauce on top. Optional to crack on a little more pepper and maybe a sprinkle of hard salty cheese (grated parm or Flat Rock).