Crab Gratin with Potatoes, Leeks, and Spinach
Scalloped potatoes was one of my favorite childhood dishes. I’ve added the classic combination of crab and spinach to this version and lightened the sauce a bit by using milk instead of cream. You can substitute shrimp or lobster meat for the crab.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 8 as a main course
Ingredients
Mornay Sauce
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare a medium heat fire (375°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker.
Step 2
Heat half of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat and sauté the leeks until wilted, about 7 minutes. Blend together with the crabmeat, mustard, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl and set aside. Heat the remaining olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and sauté the spinach until most of the moisture has evaporated. Stir in the tarragon, salt, and white pepper. Remove from the heat, stir in the crab mixture, and set aside.
Step 3
To make the Mornay sauce, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. When it has stopped foaming, stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, nutmeg, zest, salt, and pepper. Add the Gruyère and sherry. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Remove from the heat and set over a pot of simmering water.
Step 4
In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs and 1/2 cup of the Gruyère. Coat an 8-cup clay casserole or gratin dish with olive oil. Dust the bottom of the dish with the bread-crumb mixture. Line the dish with one-third of the potatoes, overlapping the slices lengthwise.
Step 5
Blend one-third of the Mornay sauce into crab mixture. Lightly salt and pepper the potatoes in the gratin dish and cover with half of the crab mixture. Add another one-third of the potatoes, then cover with the remaining crab mixture. Layer with the remaining potatoes and then the remaining Mornay sauce. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Top with 1/4 cup Gruyère and bake for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is browned. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
