Some people complain that kale is too bitter for their tastes. But they haven’t yet experienced Creamed Kale Gratin! The kale is wilted in a cream sauce that perfectly balances its natural earthy flavor and adds richness, sharpness, and cheesiness to each bite. Golden and sweet caramelized onions add a new dimension to the savory flavor, and a touch of lemon keeps everything from tasting too heavy. If you’ve ever wanted to convert someone into loving kale, Creamed Kale Gratin is the way to do it!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 quarts water
- 1 3/4 pounds kale (about 4 bunches), washed, thick stems removed
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 large Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 5 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cups parmesan cheese, grated, divided
Directions
Step 1 –In a 3-quart pot over high heat, add the water and bring it to a boil.
Step 2 –In 2 batches, add the kale to the boiling water and blanch, about 30 seconds.
Step 3 –Transfer the blanched kale to a colander and let it drain until cool.
Step 4 –Once all of the kale is blanched, drained, and cooled, squeeze the kale to remove any excess water.
Step 5 –Roughly chop the kale and set it aside.
Step 6 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 7 –In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
Step 8 –Add the onions, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the ground pepper to the melted butter and cook, while stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the flour to the caramelized onions and stir to combine until it turns golden, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 10 –Add the wine to the onion mixture and bring to a simmer.
Step 11 –Add the cream, the milk, the lemon zest, the nutmeg, and the cayenne pepper to the onion mixture and simmer for 2 minutes.
Step 12 –Add 1 1/2 cups of the parmesan, the kale, and the remaining salt and stir to combine.
Step 13 –Pour the kale mixture into a 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
Step 14 –Sprinkle the remaining parmesan on top of the kale mixture.
Step 15 –Bake until bubbling and browned, about 45-50 minutes.
Step 16 –Serve immediately.
