Salt Cod And Leek Gratin Recipes

Steps:

• Soak the salt cod in cold water a minimum of 24 hours, changing water as often as possible. Rinse before using.
• In a large pot, cover the soaked, rinsed cod with fresh cold water. Add garlic cloves and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer until the fish flakes to the touch.
• Drain off the water and let fish cool. Discard bay leaves and garlic cloves. When fish is cool, separate into small flakes. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Cook leeks gently in 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup olive oil until soft, seasoning lightly with salt, cayenne and black pepper.
• Add to the flaked cod and toss together gently. Set aside.
• Prepare a béchamel sauce by using a wooden spoon to blend second 1/4 (50 mL) cup butter with flour over medium heat.
• Whisk in milk gradually, stirring constantly until béchamel sauce is thick and smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
• Mix together béchamel sauce, Gruyère, leek and cod mixture.
• Pour into a 3 or 4 cup heat-proof buttered baking dish, dot with butter and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Gratin should be crisp, golden and bubbling.
• Garnish with black olives and a sprig of Italian parsley, if desired.
• Serve with toasted baguette or crisp flatbreads.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Generously butter a 3-qt shallow baking dish. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit just inside a 12-inch heavy skillet, then set parchment aside.
• Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces (you should have about 8 cups). Wash leeks.
• Cook leeks in butter with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, covered with parchment round, in skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel potatoes and slice crosswise 1/16 inch thick with slicer. Transfer to a large heavy pot with cream, milk, thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally (liquid will thicken). Stir in leeks, then transfer to baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Gratin can be baked 2 days ahead and chilled. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, then reheat, covered, in a 350°F oven until hot, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°.
• Butter a 13-inch oval gratin pan or 4 deep, individual-sized baking dishes.
• Cut the potatoes crosswise into thin, uniform slices.
• Cut the leeks crosswise into slices about twice as thick as the potatoes.
• Season the fish lightly with salt and pepper.
• Arrange half of the potato slices in the prepared dish, overlapping them to cover the bottom.
• Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Scatter half of the leeks over the potatoes, then arrange the fish slices over the leeks in a single layer, overlapping the slices as necessary.
• Top with the remaining leeks, then with the remaining potatoes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour the cream evenly over the layers; bake for 40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and spoon some of the cooking liquid over the top of the gratin to moisten the potatoes and help them brown.
• Continue to bake until the top layer of potatoes is tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 20 minutes.
• Let stand for 10-15 minutes and serve.