| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 326 | 13g | 8g | 51g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 27g | 5g | 4g | 0.16g |
If there’s one vegetable dish that holds a special place in my heart, it’s certainly the mouth-watering Mashua Gratin! This recipe is a fusion of flavors that never fails to impress and lately, it’s been my go-to when I want a satisfying yet healthy dinner after a day of hiking through the New Jersey trails.
Comfort Food with Flavor and Flair
Taking inspiration from my Italian-American heritage, this Mashua Gratin recipe is much like a potato gratin but with a unique twist. It brings together the earthy taste of Mashua tubers with the sweetness of sliced apples and pears, all beautifully complemented by the tanginess of citrus and a hint of warm spices.
However, what truly sets it apart is the rich and creamy finish: the hearty cheddar cheese blended with heavy cream, adding a wonderful gooey texture that perfectly contrasts the crispness of the caramelized fruit. This dish truly encapsulates the essence of comfort food. It also works very well with classic home-cooked dishes like grilled chicken breast or a properly seared steak.
Nutritional Benefits of the Mashua Gratin
But this Mashua Gratin does more than just tantalize your taste buds. The main attraction here, the Mashua tubers, are a Peruvian superfood that is packed with beneficial nutrients. They’re a fantastic source of vitamin C and dietary fiber, promoting digestive health and boosting the immune system. The citrus juices used in this recipe further enrich the vitamin C content, offering additional health benefits.
The fruit in this dish provides a natural sweetness, allowing you to reap the rewards of added fiber and antioxidants while helping to cut down on refined sugar. Meanwhile, the spices like cinnamon and nutmeg not only add depth to the flavor profile, but they are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. And let’s not forget about that shredded sharp cheddar, adding vitamin D and calcium to the mix, all the while delivering that crave-worthy savory note you expect in a gratin.
Though my Italian grandparents did not have this dish in their recipe repertoire, the Mashua Gratin pays homage to their simple yet deeply satisfying approach to cooking – using honest and flavorful ingredients to create dishes that are as nutritious as they are tasty. From their kitchen to mine, I am thrilled to bring this wonderful recipe to your table. Enjoy!
What You’ll Need
- 2 lbs of Mashua tubers
- 2 apples, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 pear, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1 tbsp of lemon juice
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Method
Step One
Heat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking dish generously.
Step Two
Peel the Mashua tubers and slice them thinly. After that, arrange them evenly in the prepared baking dish. Place the thinly sliced apples and pears on top of tubers, spreading them out evenly.
Step Three
In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Step Four
Pour the juice mixture over the tubers, apples, and pears in the baking dish, making sure that they are evenly coated. Dot the top with the small pieces of unsalted butter.
Step Five
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the tubers are tender. Stir once halfway through the baking time.
Step Six
Remove the dish from the oven and drizzle the heavy cream evenly over the top. Sprinkle the shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the cream.
Step Seven
Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the gratin cool for a few minutes before serving.
