Italian
Pumpkin and Cheese Baked Gratin
by Chef Max Mariola · 1.1M subscribers on YouTube
A creamy and cheesy baked pumpkin dish with a homemade béchamel sauce infused with cinnamon, sage, and thyme. Perfect for cold days.
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
Ingredients
9 items- 1 kgPumpkinPeeled and thinly sliced
- 100 gParmigiano ReggianoGrated, for topping
- 300 gFormaggi VariAssorted cheeses (fontina, mozzarella, gorgonzola, etc.) cut into cubes
- ThymeFor infusing the milk
- SageFor infusing the milk
- CinnamonCinnamon stick for infusing the milk
- 80 gButterFor the béchamel
- 80 gFlourAll-purpose flour for the béchamel
- MilkFor the béchamel (quantity not specified, typically around 1 liter for this amount of roux)
Method
- Prepare the infused milk: heat milk with a stick of cinnamon, a sprig of sage, and a sprig of thyme. Let it infuse over low heat, then strain and set aside.
- Peel the pumpkin, remove seeds, and slice it very thinly using a spoon or a knife.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).
- Make the béchamel: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon to form a roux. Cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually add the strained infused milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the béchamel thickens and comes to a gentle boil. Season with salt and freshly grated nutmeg if desired.
- Cut the assorted cheeses (e.g., fontina, mozzarella, gorgonzola) into small cubes.
- Assemble the dish: spread a thin layer of béchamel on the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange a layer of pumpkin slices, then scatter some cheese cubes. Repeat layers: béchamel, pumpkin, cheese, finishing with a layer of béchamel on top.
- Sprinkle grated Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top.
- Bake at 200°C for about 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 170°C and bake for another 20–30 minutes until the surface is golden and bubbly.
- Let the sformato rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm.
Chef Max Mariola
Professional chefReviewer1.1M subscribers on YouTube400.6M total channel viewsChef italiano. Ricette cucinate a casa, focus completo sulle ricette.
