Rutabaga casserolea joulupöytään!

Löysin amerikkalaiselta reseptisivustolta aivan ihanankuuloisen ja paljon kehutun paikallisen ruokalajin, Rutabaga casserolen, jota aion laittaa jouluna. Kiva kokeilla jotain etnistäkin ruokaa, tässä tapauksessa amerikkalaista, muun jouluruoan lisänä. Tässä ohje:

2 small or 1 large rutabaga, peeled and sliced into 1/2” (1 cm) thick pieces

good pinch of salt

1/4 cup (4 Tblsp/ 55 g) unsalted butter

2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

3/4 cup (175 ml) half-and-half (alternatively whole milk or cream)

1 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

salt and pepper, to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon each)

2 eggs, whisked together

Handful of bread crumbs (preferably whole wheat or rye)

Salt a pot of water and start boiling the rutabaga slices. Preheat your oven to 400F/200C. While the rutabagas cook, make a sauce by melting the butter over medium-low heat in a separate pot. Whisk in the flour, continuing to whisk until smooth, then whisk in the half-and-half. Remove from the heat, add the sugar, cinnamon, salt and pepper, and eggs. Stir well. Once the rutabaga slices are soft, reserve half of them, mash the other half with the cream sauce, then mix in the remaining slices. Butter an oval or round baking dish (a deep pie plate works fine), pour the mixture into the dish, sprinkle the bread crumbs over, and bake in the middle of your oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the surface begins to brown.