I loved this ‘one-dish main’ concept the first time I read about it. And it’s grown on me every time I make it. No matter what your cultural background or culinary preferences, you’ll find something to love in this hearty winter casserole!
This is a complex-looking dish that’s really a quick combo of three simple components you might not have thought of putting together before.And, as they say about all truly great ideas, the result is something greater than the simple sum of the parts.
Foundation…
The base for this dish is a simple potato ‘custard’ incorporating mashed spuds, eggs and flour, to stick it all together. GThis mix produces a firm foundation for what might be an otherwise unstabvle veggie-rich filling which really benefits from not being too firm itself. The filling is the flavour ‘heart’ of the dish.
Heart…
The feature middle layer of this casserole showcases a classic ragout of sweet bell peppers, onions, a bottle of authentic Italian Passata (tomato sauce) from the international aisle at the supermarket and a few simple but crucial spices. I suppose you could add other Mediterranean ingredients such as zucchini, eggplant or fresh tomatoes. But trust me – it wouldn’t be the same. There’s something truly remarkable about this light, bright, flavourful blend!
If you want a veggie dish, leave as is. But the original recipe calls for 450 g of boneless chicken breast. And that makes the whole concoction ideal for me. Just sauté the chicken pieces in olive oil with the salt and pepper. Then shred or cube into the tomato ragout.
The crown…
The topping is as unique as the foundation of this casserole: two or three handfuls of shredded cheese. A triple cheese mix is recommended. If you really have to. you can get such a blend ready-to-sprinkle on top from the supermarket. Otherwise, save some money by investing a few minutes shredding your cheese fresh from the blocks. It’s a breeze if you have a food processor or a shredder attachment for your stand mixer.
Bake…
All the ingredients are fully cooked going into the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake about 25 minutes, uncovered, until the filling is bubbly and the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
My take
If you love casseroles, this one is a must-try. And I’m betting it’s different enough that you haven’t run into it – or anything quite like it – before!
~ Maggie J.