Creamy Cabbage Gratin With Toasted Almonds - cooking recipe

Ingredients

300 -400 g cabbage, finely sliced then very roughly chopped
1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
1 teaspoon oil
1/2 cup slivered almonds (or blanched almonds, roughly chopped)
1/2 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (I prefer wholemeal)
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Place cabbage into a colander and rinse briefly under cold running water until it is slightly damp.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over a moderately high heat, then add drained (but damp) cabbage.
Stir well, and cover with a lid.
Steam cabbage over a moderately high heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the cabbage is tender, but still a little crunchy.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cream, salt, pepper, sugar, nutmeg and paprika and stir to combine.
When the cabbage is cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat and reduce the heat on the stove top to medium.
Place 1 teaspoon oil into a small frypan.
Heat oil in the frypan for a minute or two, then add the almonds, tossing constantly until they turn a light golden brown.
Add the toasted almonds and the cream mixture to the cabbage and stir well.
Grease a small (3 cup capacity) casserole or pyrex dish with butter or margarine.
Transfer the cabbage mixture to this dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and cheese.
Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the cabbage.
(If you wish to make this dish several hours ahead of serving time, prepare it up to this stage, cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the refrigerator until needed).
Bake on the centre shelf of a moderate 180C (350F) oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown- cooking time may be slightly longer if the dish has been refrigerated.