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Celery Root Spinach Gratin: A Steakhouse-Inspired Side

You’d be forgiven for mistaking my Thanksgiving feast for a steakhouse dinner. But can you really blame me?

No, I haven’t eschewed poultry for slabs of steak and pommes frites on each guest’s plate. I’ve just been stealing ideas from the section of the steakhouse menu that everyone secretly lusts for the most: the sides.

The best steakhouses have a side dish game that’s as strong as their dry-aged beef selection–if you stop to think about it, a steakhouse meal is the alterna-Thanksgiving for the other 364 days of the year.

celery root spinach gratin
Photo: Casey Barber

Just like I could go with or without the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, I often get distracted away from the steak when presented with a lineup of iceberg wedges draped in blue cheese and bacon; crocks of crispy breadcrumbed mac and cheese; scalloped potato gratin; and bowls of garlicky creamed spinach.

Specifically, it’s those last two sides that make my heart skip a beat in more ways than one. Maybe in this case, you’d be forgiven for assuming my Thanksgiving menu is sponsored by the PC Police.

(That’s Pro-Cream Police, in case you’re wondering, and no, it doesn’t exist in real life. Unless you consider me the founding member.)

celery root spinach gratin
Photo: Casey Barber

Or maybe the Pro-Potato Police, because for a few years, it seemed impossible to cut either mashed potatoes or potato gratin from the roster. They were both too good in their own right.

But there’s no law against bringing a new root vegetable to the table–after all, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes co-exist in Thanksgiving harmony without any slap fights or side-eye glances.

And since we know all too well that everything tastes better when simmered in a little cream sauce, I’ve devised the ultimate solution.

My steakhouse-inspired gratin uses whisper-thin slices of celery root instead of potatoes, and bulks up with a whole bunch (two bunches, actually) of spinach, thus fulfilling the creamed spinach requirement that no one knew they needed at Thanksgiving.

celery root spinach gratin
Photo: Casey Barber

How to use a slicer — safely

And if we can talk about getting those roots down to whisper-thin thickness for a minute… I know, mandoline slicers are terrifying.

They’re used infrequently, bulky to store, and worse, you run the risk for slicing the tips of your fingers even if you’re attempting to use one of the useless plastic food guards that come with every model.

Let me introduce you to the De Buyer Kobra slicer (yes, I’m calling it out by name and no, no one’s paying me to do it.)

It’s small and thin so it fits in a drawer, adjusts slicing thickness like a champ, and stays crazy sharp for years.

Ditch that plastic pusher and grab a cut-proof glove, and you’re in business.

celery root spinach gratin
Photo: Casey Barber

Make the gratin ahead of time

If you aren’t already seduced by the promises of creamy vegetables and persuaded by my sales pitch for the perfect useful slicer, the knowledge that this is a fantastic make-ahead dish for Thanksgiving.

Par-bake the celery root spinach gratin for 45 minutes, then refrigerate until it’s ready to make its debut. On the big day, throw it back in the oven to get that final gorgeous browned Gruyere crust.

The turkey will get its spotlight stolen for sure.

Want to make this gratin with potatoes?

If you want more of a traditional potato gratin, follow these substitutions:

  • Replace the celery root with an equal amount of Yukon Gold (yellow) potatoes, or make the gratin with half celery root and half potatoes.
  • If you want to omit the spinach, feel free to increase the total amount of potatoes to 3 pounds and double the amount of leeks. It’s optional, but I love the aromatics in this dish.
celery root spinach gratin
celery root spinach gratin

Celery Root Spinach Gratin

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours

Instead of traditional scalloped potatoes, take a cue from steakhouse menus this Thanksgiving and make a creamy celery root spinach gratin.

Adapted loosely from a Williams-Sonoma recipe

Ingredients

  • nonstick spray
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 large shallots, minced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large leek or 2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, cleaned and sliced into paper-thin half-moons
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 16-ounce package baby spinach
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 1/2 pounds celery root (or potatoes — see the Notes section), peeled and sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 3/4 pound (12 ounces) Gruyere cheese, coarsely shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Spritz a shallow 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a medium (3- to 5-quart) Dutch oven over medium-low heat until shimmering.
  4. Add the shallots, garlic, leeks, and a generous pinch of salt.
  5. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-8 minutes until the shallot and leek are soft and translucent.
  6. Add the spinach in large handfuls, stirring constantly to wilt the spinach before adding the next handful.
  7. When the spinach is just wilted, stir in another pinch of salt along with the cream and half and half.
  8. Remove from the heat.
  9. Arrange 1/4 of the of celery root slices, overlapping slightly, across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  10. Ladle 1/2 cup of the spinach, leek, and cream mixture over the shingled celery root slices and spread evenly.
  11. Sprinkle 1/4 of the Gruyere cheese over the spinach.
  12. Repeat the layers 3 more times to fill the dish.
  13. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  14. Remove the foil and bake for 15-30 minutes more until the gratin is golden brown and bubbling.
  15. Let the gratin rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

TO MAKE AHEAD:

  • Bake, covered, for the initial 45 minutes, then cool to room temperature and cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance.
  • When ready to serve, bring to room temperature before returning to the oven to bake uncovered for about 30 minutes.

TO MAKE A TRADITIONAL POTATO GRATIN:

  • Replace the celery root with Yukon Gold (yellow) potatoes, or use half celery root and half potatoes.
  • If you want to omit the spinach, feel free to increase the total amount of potatoes to 3 pounds and double the amount of leeks. It's optional, but I love the aromatics in this dish.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 254mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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One Comment

  1. Your Thanksgiving sounds like the kind I want to be a part of! I love cooking up different sides every year and not sticking to the same ol’ same ol’ turkey. This celery root gratin is brilliant! I love celery root and I’m thinking I’ll need to make this soon!

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