Today I’m giving you a little inspiration for your Thanksgiving Day table, the holidays are right around the corner, so it’s time to start planning, can you believe it?
This deliciously creamy gratin combines three of my favorite winter squash, butternut, delicata and acorn.
They sit nice and pretty in a parmesan and garlic cream sauce and are adorned with crispy sage leaves, you couldn’t ask for a better combination of flavors!
Besides tasting over the top amazing, I love the presentation that happens by using the different squash shapes together.
I pre-roasted my squash a little, then layered them into a buttered casserole dish.
The cream sauce is made ahead of time then carefully spooned all around the squash slices being careful to leave some squash peeking through, that’s what makes the presentation so pretty.
It’s a show stopper for the holiday season when we’re all allowed to indulge a little!
Wouldn’t this be dreamy sitting next to your Turkey this year?
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- 1 butternut squash, neck part only, skin removed, then cut into rounds
- 1 delicata squash, skin on, then sliced into rings, remove pulp and seeds
- 1 acorn squash, skin on, remove pulp and seeds, quarter it then make slices,
- cut all squash about ¼ inch slices, not too thick and not too thin
- 2 cups, heavy cream
- 2 handfuls of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 2 finely grated garlic cloves, done on a microplane
- ¾ stick of unsalted butter
- 1 bunch of fresh sage leaves
- I pre- roasted all the squash just to make sure it wouldn't be hard, on a baking sheet at 400 degrees, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, just until al dente, where it still had a little bite.
- After they cool place squash into a buttered 13x9 casserole dish. (these first two steps can be done the day before and refrigerated overnight, before adding cream sauce.) If you do it the day before, take it out and get it to room temp, before adding sauce.
- TO MAKE THE CREAM SAUCE:
- In a small sauce pan on low flame, add butter and garlic, just until garlic is fragrant, not brown, then add cream, salt and pepper too taste.
- Simmer cream sauce just until the edges start to bubble, then turn off the heat and let it set up for a minute.
- Add the Parmigiano, stir well, then spoon the cream sauce all around the squash in casserole dish, leaving some of the squash exposed but spreading it all around and in between.
- Place casserole dish into a 450 degree oven until bubbly and nicely golden, keep checking.
- Garnish with crispy sage leaves, by melting a tablespoon or two of butter in a small pan, when butter is hot throw the leaves in and they will start to sizzle and get crispy, remove immediately.
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
