Grade: A
Time it takes: 1 hour and 15 minutes (30 minutes prep, 45 minutes bake)
Yield: 13x9 casserole dish
Source: My grandma
My family always has this dish for Thanksgiving. If we weren't hosting then we would be asked to bring it as our contribution to the feast. My grandmother would be the one to make it until I moved out to Colorado where I realized I had to actually cook things. The first time I made this for Thanksgiving I read 2 tablespoons of grated onion as 2 cups of grated onion - it was a bit on the onion-y side that year. I've since gotten the recipe down pat.
It is a great side dish for your Thanksgiving spread. It has vegetables in there, but covered in cheese to fool the children - like me when I was a little one, I always hated vegetables but I loved this casserole. The prep isn't too involved, but if you don't feel like tackling it on Thanksgiving day you can make it the day before and stick it in the refrigerator. I pop mine in the oven right when the turkey gets out, and then I have 45 minutes to finish up everything else and get the table ready.
Click below to expand for the recipe!
- 40 oz chopped broccoli
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons grated onion
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 8 egg yolks
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (or so - I probably end up with 3-4 cups making their way into the casserole, because really you can never go wrong with cheese...)
- buttered cracker crumbs - I use Club crackers, about half a sleeve
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a 13x9 baking dish.
Steam the broccoli, set aside.
Mix the butter and flour in big pot over low heat. Add the milk, onion, and lemon juice, turn the heat up to medium/medium-low and whisk until thickened. Temper the egg yolks with some of the hot milk mixture and add it all to the pot; don't scramble the eggs. Fold in the steamed broccoli. Add the mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir until combined.
Pour half of the broccoli mixture into the baking dish, sprinkle with half of the grated cheese, pour the rest of the broccoli mixture into the baking dish, and sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese. Spread the buttered cracker crumbs on top. Either cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake at this point or slide (uncovered) into the oven and bake for 45 minutes.