Vegetables Squash + Gourds Butternut Squash Winter Squash and Savoy Cabbage Gratin with Garlic Crema Be the first to rate & review! San Francisco chef Matthew Accarrino of SPQR looks to cornstarch to thicken the creamy milk-based roasted garlic sauce here. It’s a rich but healthy combination of winter squash with cabbage, all topped with crunchy hazelnuts. Slideshow: More Squash Recipes By Matthew Accarrino Matthew Accarrino Matthew Accarrino is a professional chef and athlete with more than two decades in the kitchen and restaurant business. He has authored a cookbook and currently helms the kitchen at Michelin-starred SPQR in San Francisco. He is also a competitive cyclist and balances the two passions of cooking and athleticism.Expertise: Italian cooking, pasta, recipes, cooking, healthy eating, athletic diets.Experience: Matthew Accarrino is a nationally recognized professional chef and athlete based in San Francisco. Born in the Midwest and raised on the East Coast, he moved west to California in 2007. He had originally hoped to become a professional cyclist until a leg injury turned his passion for cooking into a career. Matthew's unique culinary style draws inspiration from his Italian heritage, personal experience, and classical training with some of America's best chefs. In the kitchen, Matthew takes full advantage of the bounty of opportunities California ingredients present. This includes a quality focused approach to direct sourcing, producing, and at times playing a role in the creation of his ingredients. The result is an intensely personal cuisine that is both technically polished and soulful, which has garnered critical praise. Under his direction, SPQR has been awarded a coveted Michelin star for nearly a decade. He has multiple James Beard Best Chef nominations, and Food & Wine named him a Best New Chef in 2014. Matthew co-authored and released his first book, SPQR: Modern Italian Food and Wine (Ten Speed Press) in October 2012. When not in the kitchen at SPQR, Matthew can be found training on his bicycle or on the road cooking for culinary, charity, or cycling events. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 1, 2017 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email San Francisco chef Matthew Accarrino of SPQR uses cornstarch to thicken the creamy milk-based roasted garlic sauce here. It’s a rich but healthy combination of winter squash with cabbage, all topped with crunchy hazelnuts. For entertaining, the assembled unbaked gratin can be refrigerated overnight. The next day, bring it to room temperature before baking. Photo: Constantine Poulos Active Time: 30 mins Total Time: 1 hrs Yield: 6 to 8 Ingredients 10 garlic cloves 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing 1/4 cup hazelnuts One 2-pound butternut squash—peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices One 1-pound Delicata squash—halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices Kosher salt Pepper 1 pound Savoy cabbage, cored and cut into 2-inch pieces (about 16 cups) 2 cups low-fat milk 2 tablespoons cornstarch whisked with 1/4 cup water 4 ounces mild white cheddar or Fontina, shredded 3 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage Directions Preheat the oven to 375°. In a small saucepan or skillet, cook the garlic with 1/2 cup of the olive oil over moderately low heat until the garlic is softened, about 15 minutes. Transfer the garlic to a small bowl and mash to a paste. Reserve the oil for another use. Spread the hazelnuts in a pie plate and toast for about 12 minutes, until fragrant. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and let cool slightly, then rub together to remove the skins. Coarsely chop the hazelnuts. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash with 2 tablespoons of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer and bake for about 30 minutes, until softened and golden. Leave the oven on. Meanwhile, lightly grease eight 8-ounce ramekins or gratin dishes with olive oil and arrange on a large rimmed baking sheet. In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the cabbage, season with salt and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the cabbage to the prepared ramekins and top with the roasted squash. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk with the mashed garlic over moderate heat until it just comes to a boil. Add the cornstarch slurry, whisking until thickened, about 1 minute. Whisk in the cheese and herbs and season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce evenly into the ramekins. Bake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, until bubbling. Turn the broiler to high. Transfer the baking sheet with the ramekins to the top rack of the oven and broil 6 inches from the heat source for about 2 minutes, until the squash is browned in spots. Sprinkle with the chopped hazelnuts and serve. Make Ahead The assembled unbaked gratins can be refrigerated overnight; bring to room temperature before baking. Notes The gratin can also be baked in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Rate it Print