Make the most of fall ingredients with this seasonal gratin, in which layers of celery root and squash are bathed in cream and topped with crunchy walnut- and thyme-studded breadcrumbs. We recommend learning How to Grill Ribeye and an impressive meal pairing.

What to buy: Panko is coarse Japanese-style breadcrumbs. It’s available in the international section of most supermarkets.

Game plan: You can make the gratin up to 1 day ahead and rewarm it, covered, at 350°F for about 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

This recipe was featured as part of our Neoslacker Interactive Thanksgiving menu.

  • Yields: 8 to 12 servings
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Total: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients (13)

For the streusel:

  • 1 cup panko
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the gratin:

  • 1 (3-pound) butternut squash
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 medium celery root, also known as celeriac (about 1 pound), peeled and cut in half
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), plus more for coating the baking dish
  • 1/2 medium white onion, thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

For the streusel:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until the butter is incorporated. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

For the gratin:

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter and set aside.
  2. Prepare the squash: Peel off the skin with a vegetable peeler. Trim the top and bottom. Cut the neck from the bulb of the squash. Halve each piece lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.
  3. Pour the cream into a large bowl and set aside. Slice the squash and celery root into 1/4-inch-thick pieces with a mandoline or sharp knife, placing the pieces in the cream as they are cut. Toss until well coated.
  4. Melt the butter in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When it foams, add the onion and season well with salt and pepper. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes; set aside.
  5. Construct the gratin by ladling a third of the squash–celery root mixture into the prepared baking dish, then seasoning well with salt and pepper. Top with half of the onions, then another layer of squash and celery root. Season the second layer with salt and pepper and cover with the remaining onions. Place the last of the squash and celery root on top and press down to create an even surface. Season with salt and pepper, then pour the remaining cream over top.
  6. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the gratin. Bake until the vegetables are soft and the streusel is golden brown, about 40 to 50 minutes. Let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.