No tags yet.
Healthy Veggie Gratin
"Au gratin" is the French term for the culinary technique of topping a dish with butter, bread crumbs or cheese, and baking or broiling it until the top is browned and crisp. It is very tasty and easy to make, but also packed with fat and calories.
I try to include as much dairy as possible on Mia's diet because she stopped drinking her bottle about 2 month ago, which is not something I wanted. However, including dairy products regularly on her diet, such as cheese and yogurt, and incorporating milk on her recipes, can make up for it.
Dairy products are an important source of calcium, protein and vitamin D. It is specially important for kids because it builds strong bones and teeth. Cow's milk is not easily digested, that is why most doctors recommend it for kids that are 12 month or older. Always choose whole milk and not low fat milk, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Kids need all that fat to develop their brain and nerves.
I personally always choose "organic" whole milk.
What do you need?
1 Zucchini (small)
1 Broccoli head (small)
6 Mushrooms
20 Baby Spinach leaves
2 Scallions
2 Garlic cloves
7 Ozs. Whole milk ricotta cheese (half of the 15 onz. container)
1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese
1 Egg
1/2 Tsp. Butter
Salt & pepper to taste
What to do?
Preheat the oven at 400 F degrees
Wash all the vegetables
If the zucchinis aren't organic, peel them
Cut all the vegetables in small pieces
Crush the garlic cloves
Beat the egg
Transfer the cheese to a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste (I usually only add the pepper because the Parmesan cheese is very salty)
Mix the scallions, crushed garlic, 3/4 of the Parmesan cheese and egg into the ricotta
Grease a small oven-safe dish with the butter (I use the oven-safe dishes for onion soup or a souffle pan)
Transfer the mixture to the dish
Top with 1/4 Parmesan cheese you have left
Bake for 15 minutes and broil another 5 minutes
Voila!
Tips, variations & more:
Add all the vegetables you want!
You can also cover with a mix of Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs to make it crispy
