Au Gratin

Ingredients

• Mixed vegetables of your choice — potato, carrot, capsicum, bell pepper, baby corn, French beans, cauliflower, broccoli, green peas, sweet corn

• 2–3 cups milk

• 1 cup grated cheese — cheddar, or a mix of whatever you have

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon mixed herbs

• 1 teaspoon oregano

• A little extra butter for greasing the baking dish

Process

• Cut all the vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces, approximately the size of green peas. Try to maintain the same size for all the vegetables so they cook evenly.

• Wash the vegetables thoroughly and keep them aside.

• In a large pot, boil water with some salt.

• Once the water is fully boiled, add all the vegetables and blanch them for 3–4 minutes.

• After 3–4 minutes, switch off the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and keep it aside. The vegetables will continue cooking gently and become tender as needed.

• In another pot, heat 2 tablespoons of butter.

• Once the butter melts, add 2 tablespoons of flour and whisk continuously.

• Slowly add the milk while continuing to whisk. Keep whisking well to make sure there are no lumps of flour in the milk.

• After a couple of minutes, add the salt, pepper, oregano, and herbs. Stir everything nicely.

• Continue cooking until the sauce becomes thick and creamy. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more milk and adjust the consistency.

• Add some grated cheese to the sauce and mix well.

• Add the blanched vegetables to the sauce and mix everything thoroughly.

• Cook for another 3–4 minutes, allowing the sauce and vegetables to combine properly.

• Grease a baking tray with a little butter.

• Transfer the creamy vegetable mixture into the baking tray and spread it evenly.

• Cover the top generously with the remaining grated cheese.

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.

• Place the baking tray on the lower rack of the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is nicely melted and golden.

• And voilà — your Au Gratin is ready! Serve hot and enjoy. 😋