In a holiday rut? Are you tired of the same old menu every single year—sometimes twice in two months? Are you sick of green bean casserole? If you’re looking for a delightfully different side-dish to serve at this year’s holiday gathering, consider au gratin sweet peas. They’re sweet, creamy, and delicious! They’ll leave your guests pleasantly surprised and give you, the chef, a new side dish to prepare any time you want to change things up a little.
Best of all, you’ll be eating your peas—your mother would be proud.
For this recipe you’ll need:
2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon butter, divided
1 cup onions, minced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 Tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
4 cups sweet peas, blanched
½ cup fine breadcrumbs
4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese
To make this dish:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease an oval dish with 1-teaspoon butter.
Over medium heat, melt 2 Tablespoons butter. Add chopped onions and season with salt and pepper. Sauté onions for 2 minutes or until they are soft. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk and bring to a simmer, stirring almost constantly. Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add peas and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
Pour the creamed peas into the greased dish and sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs. Top the casserole with sharp cheddar cheese and cook in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
Tip: This recipe calls for fresh peas, but you can substitute frozen peas if you’d like. Make sure you defrost them in a strainer for about half an hour before adding them to your recipe to eliminate excess water from seeping into your mixture.
Adjust salt and pepper to suit your own taste. You may also change the type of cheese you use to suit your own preference.
Honey You Have Got To Try My Mac-n-Cheese!