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This autumnal butternut squash gratin is made with a mix of Emmi Emmentaler and Gruyere cheeses, fresh thyme, and bay leaves. This gratin is perfect as part of a cozy fall supper or as a Thanksgiving side.
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Butternut Squash Gratin
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
 
An autumnal butternut squash gratin recipe made with a mix of Emmi USA Emmentaler and Gruyere cheeses and fresh thyme and bay leaves. 

This recipe would absolutely be at home on the Thanksgiving table, but I'd also like to make the case for butternut squash gratin as a weeknight alternative to mac and cheese. Serve with a lemony, slightly bracing green salad and you have a complete meal.
Recipe Type: Dinner
Keyword: gratin
Makes: 8 servings
Author: Elizabeth Stark
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds), stem trimmed and peeled
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 yellow onion, minced (about 3/4 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed, peeled and minced
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for finishing
  • 4 bay leaves, preferably fresh
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 3 ounces Emmi USA Emmentaler, shredded
  • 2 ounces Emmi USA Gruyere, shredded
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 3-quart round or oval casserole dish with butter; set aside.
  2. Pour cream into a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, thyme sprigs, bay, sea salt, and pepper. Stirring often, cook until mixture starts to steam. Turn heat to low and steep, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Fish bay leaves and thyme from cream mixture and reserve. Add Emmentaler and stir until smooth.
  3. Meanwhile, prep the squash. Halve squash lengthwise. Scoop seeds from the base. Cut squash into even half moons about 1/8-inch thick, ideally with a mandoline slicer. If using a knife, work carefully to keep things thin and even.

  4. Layer squash in the prepared casserole. Place arch-shaped slices from the base of the squash on the bottom and sides of the dish. Then, using two-thirds of the slices, pick up 6 - 8 of the half moon shaped slices at a time and fan them out in a circle along the edge, using the arch-shaped base pieces to prop them up. Carefully spoon in half of the cream mixture. Fan remaining squash in a circle in the center of the casserole. Tuck reserved bay leaves between squash slices. Carefully spoon remaining cream mixture over top.

  5. Cover, either with a lid or tightly fitting foil. Bake 30 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven, remove lid or foil, scatter Gruyere on top, and bake another 25 - 30 minutes or until cheese is a rich golden brown hue and quite bubbly.
  7. Cool 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, slice, and serve.