Creamy leek and fennel gratin

Tam West

When I worked in Aix-en-Provence, head chef Jean-Marc Banzo taught me one thing I’ll never forget about cooking vegetables. He loved to saute or fry leeks until they almost fell apart. The same thing applies to fennel. This technique concentrates the flavour and changes the texture and the result is incredibly delicious. I have combined these vegetables to make a creamy, crunchy gratin that will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp	Olive oil
2 Tbsp	Butter
2 large	Leeks, sliced in half then in 1 cm slices
2 medium	Fennel bulbs, sliced in ½ cm slices
2 tsp	Garlic, grated
1 tsp	Fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 tsp	Fresh thyme, picked
250 ml	Cream
¾ cup	Cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup	Grated parmesan cheese, use real Parmigiano-Reggiano
¾ cup	Panko breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Heat oven to 200C. In a large frying pan heat olive oil and butter on a medium heat. Add leeks, fennel and garlic and gently fry stirring often until vegetables begin to wilt.
2. Season with salt, add herbs then turn heat down and cook for a further 15-20 minutes until completely softened, stirring now and then.
3. Stir through the cream, cheddar and half the parmesan. Transfer to an ovenproof dish, sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and remaining parmesan.
4. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until golden and crisp on top.

More of Geoff's vege recipes

• Tahini roast cauliflower
• Eggplant parmigiana