French Green Vegetable au Gratin

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
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Updated on 12/25/21
Vegetable gratin

Diana Miller /Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
383 Calories
23g Fat
30g Carbs
18g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 383
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 12g 59%
Cholesterol 54mg 18%
Sodium 800mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 65mg 326%
Calcium 493mg 38%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 866mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

"Au gratin" is a French phrase which means to be covered in cheese or breadcrumbs and browned. Vegetable gratin is such a lovely, versatile dish. This version is made with green veggies—broccoli, zucchini, and spinach—but the same technique can be used to spruce up a variety of different vegetables.

The smallest hint of a secret ingredient, poultry seasoning, is nearly undetectable hidden in the cheese and green vegetable mixture, yet gives the dish a special complexity. If you don't have it, use a mix of dried thyme, rosemary, and black pepper. 

Vegetable au gratin makes a great side that works well with many meat and fish dishes, like roast chicken, pork tenderloin, and baked salmon. Serve a larger portion and you have a great main course for a simple lunch or even a dinner, especially when served with crusty bread on the side. 

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pound broccoli, chopped

  • 1 pound zucchini, chopped

  • 2 cups spinach, chopped

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Cantal cheese, or cheddar cheese

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs

  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 375 F and butter a large gratin dish.

  3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, gently sauté the onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onion and continue sautéing the mixture for 30 seconds.

  4. Add the milk, salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper to the pan and stir constantly for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.

  5. Stir the prepared broccoli, zucchini, spinach, and Cantal or cheddar cheese into the sauce and bring the mixture to just a simmer. Turn it out into the buttered gratin dish.

  6. Stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter and sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs over the gratin.

  7. Bake the vegetable gratin in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is hot and bubbly, the vegetables are tender, and the breadcrumbs have turned golden brown.

Recipe Variations

  • You can switch out the vegetables to suit your taste, seasonality, or ​pocketbook. This recipe relies on green vegetables, but there is no reason not to add a few mushrooms or top it off with a couple of meaty tomato slices. 
  • The cheese in this classic recipe is Cantal. Cantal has a distinctive flavor that works very well with the vegetables. You can switch out the cheese for your own preferences; cheddar, goat cheese, or a crumbly blue cheese also work well.

What is the difference between scalloped and au gratin?

Recipes that start with "scalloped" and "au gratin" will result in very similar creamy, bubbly baked dishes. Often made with potatoes, there's one key difference. Scalloped dishes include a sauce often made with heavy cream, but cheese is not required (although many recipes include a cheese topping). Gratin dishes almost always contain cheese, often with a layer on top, and frequently include a crispy breadcrumb topping as well.