Cooking Technique: Gratin (2024)

FAQs

What is the cooking technique used in gratin? ›

Derived from the French verb gratiner — to broil — gratin is a process that involves topping a dish with either cheese or buttery breadcrumbs and baking or broiling until crispy.

A gratin is a dish that is topped with cheese, or bread crumbs mixed with bits of butter, then heated in the oven or under the grill until brown and crisp. The terms au gratin or gratinée refer to any dish prepared in such a manner.

A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

Gratin (French: [ɡʁatɛ̃]) is a culinary technique in which an ingredient is topped with a browned crust, often using breadcrumbs, grated cheese, egg or butter. The term may be applied to any dish made using this method. Gratin is usually prepared in a shallow dish of some kind.

Sweating in cooking is the gentle heating of vegetables in a little oil or butter, with frequent stirring and turning to ensure that any emitted liquid will evaporate. Sweating usually results in tender, sometimes translucent, pieces.

A gratin dish is typically shallow and oval-shaped, with handles on each side for easy transport from the oven to the table. But it isn't your only option: "Even though a classic gratin dish is beautiful and useful, you can make a gratin in pretty much any dish that is ovenproof, such as glass, enamel, or earthenware.

Like many culinary terms, the phrase au gratin derives from a French word that means something similar to “scrapings.” According to the Oxford Companion to Food, gratin simply refers to a crisply baked top.

This "gratin style potatoes" as North Americans call it has been a traditional French dish since the 18th century even though its origins date back to the 16th century and the appearance of the tuber in Europe.

One serving of this creamy potato side dish will provide you with half your daily value of vitamin C, almost a quarter of your daily value of fiber, and some calcium and iron.

Who invented gratin? ›

History. The first mention of the dish is from 12 July 1788. It was served with ortolans at a dinner given by Charles-Henri, Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre and Lieutenant-general of the Dauphiné, for the municipal officials of the town of Gap, now in the département of Hautes-Alpes.

Fortunately, you can still make a delicious gratin dauphinoise without cream. Substitute fat-free or non-dairy milk, a small amount of light butter, and plenty of herbs and spices so you wind up with a tasty dish that you don't have to feel guilty about eating.

A bain-marie is similar to a traditional water bath or double boiler. First, you place water in one container and heat it; then, you put a smaller container inside the first one. Doing this creates a heated bath that you can use to cook food gently and keep it warm.

The term “casserole” can refer to any dish prepared in a casserole dish—essentially a deep, wide baking dish—and baked in the oven. A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder.

Casseroles and gratins are the same dish.

Yes, there actually IS a difference between a casserole and a gratin. Both are baked in the oven, but a gratin is a special form of a casserole. When cooking it, you will layer the ingredients instead of just adding them all together.

Cooking Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 220°C/425°/Gas Mark 7. Spread on a baking tray and place the tray in the middle of the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes.