The rich flavor of Gruyère cheese brings out the nutty flavor of the roots in this creamy gratin. Any combination of roots works in this recipe, but if you use red beets, they will streak the gratin with bright color. A delightful side dish for any roasted meat.

Makes 8 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 1/4 hours

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

3 pounds assorted root vegetables, peeled (see Tip) and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 cup thinly sliced shallots
1 1/3 cups low-fat milk, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups finely shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Tip)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. If using parsnips, quarter lengthwise and remove the woody core before cutting into 1/8-inch thick slices. Cook vegetables in a large pot of boiling water until barely tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until light brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1 cup milk and bring to a simmer. Combine flour and the remaining 1/3 cup milk in a small bowl to make a smooth paste; stir into the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce bubbles and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, thyme, salt and pepper.
4. Combine breadcrumbs, the remaining 3/4 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon oil in a bowl.
5. Layer the vegetable slices in the prepared baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the top and top with the breadcrumb mixture.
6. Bake the gratin until it is bubbling and the top is golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 276 calories; 13 g fat (5 g sat, 6 g mono); 25 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrate; 12 g protein; 6 g fiber; 357 mg sodium; 604 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (200% daily value), Vitamin C (35% dv), Calcium (31% dv), Folate (25% dv), Potassium (17% dv).
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 high-fat meat, 1 fat

TIP: Tips: Beets, carrots and parsnips are easily peeled with a vegetable peeler, but for tougher-skinned roots like celeriac, rutabaga and turnips, removing the peel with a knife can be easier. Cut off one end of the root to create a flat surface to keep it steady on the cutting board. Follow the contour of the vegetable with your knife. If you use a vegetable peeler on the tougher roots, peel around each vegetable at least three times to ensure all the fibrous skin has been removed.

To make fresh breadcrumbs, trim crusts from country-style whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. One slice of bread makes about 1/2 cup crumbs.

A delicious fall dish! I made it this weekend for a potluck and everyone loved it. I did add more cheese than called for :-) Also, the prep takes a while, so probably better to do on a day when you have more time to cook...

Penelope, Burlington, VT

I used red beets, golden topped turnips and celeriac. I love the red color the beets gave the dish. Also, I had parmesan on hand so I used that instead of Gruyere. My sauce was a bit thick (maybe I used too much flour?) so I thinned it with a bit more milk. Delicious--and so are the leftovers!

Anonymous

Made this tonight after visiting our local winter farmers' market. Using local shallots, rutabaga, celeriac, red potatoes, yellow potatoes, purple & orange carrots and a combo of fontina, gruyere & parmesan cheeses. Yum, yum, yum!

Anonymous, MI