Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin
Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin layers tender potatoes, turnip, rutabaga, celery root, and parsnip in a lush thyme- and garlic-infused cream with a hint of nutmeg and cayenne. Parmesan melts into the sauce and crisps on top, giving a golden finish and deep, comforting flavors. Serve it as a cozy side for fall and winter dinners or a standout holiday accompaniment.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 20 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 58 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 27
- Heart Health
- 80
- Metabolic
- 33
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 25
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- 2
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the vegetables and cook uncovered for 3 minutes. Drain in a colander, then immediately submerge them in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking. Once cold, drain thoroughly and set aside.
- 3
Cook the garlic and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the garlic begins to sizzle, about 3 minutes.
- 4
Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, thyme, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper; cook until the mixture starts to simmer, about 5 minutes.
- 5
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil and spread the vegetables evenly over the oil.
- 6
Pour the broth and cream mixture over the vegetables and sprinkle with half of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
- 7
Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, set it on a baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
- 8
Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake uncovered until the vegetables are browned, bubbling, and tender, about 30 minutes more.
- 9
Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Calories 307.36 kcal Moderate 15%
- Protein 6.26 g Moderate 13%
- Carbohydrate 19.21 g 7%
- Total Fat 22.09 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 12.83 g High 64%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 59.98 mg Moderate 20%
- Sodium 509.63 mg High 22%
- Dietary Fiber 4.61 g Moderate 16%
- Total Sugars 4.38 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 216.6 mg Moderate 17%
- Iron 0.96 mg Low Source 5%
- Potassium 663.06 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin A 45.92 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 22.13 mg Good Source 25%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Celery
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin is a French side dish recipe made with 15 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 40 mins, serves 6, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 307.36 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin?
- It is a French gratin recipe made with 15 ingredients, usually served for side dish.
- What is Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin made of?
- The main ingredients are Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Chicken Broth, Fresh Thyme. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin?
- About 1 hr 40 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 307.36 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin healthy?
- Chef John's Creamy Root Veggie Gratin has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 307.36 calories and 6.26 g of protein, or 13% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 509.63 mg (22% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.83 g (64% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Celery and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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