Beecher’s Kale and Brown Rice Gratin with Smoked Cheese Sauce

Before DC, there was Seattle. You didn’t think I’d let you off the hook with just one post about it, did ya’?!

Without a doubt, my favorite afternoon activity we did while in town was exploring Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. As a foodie who’s especially into fresh food and farmers’ markets, this place was at the top of my must-see list.

To my surprise though, there was more to the market than the expertly staged produce and seafood stalls indoors. Across the narrow, cobblestone street stood specialty bakeries (I would have given my left arm to eat at Piroshky, Piroshky!) that epic Greek Yogurt stand, and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese shop.

Take away my gluten but please, not my cheese! I’ve never really been much of a bread girl – I’ve eaten burgers and brats without buns for years, for example, and the restaurant bread bowl is just kind of meh in my opinion. My idea of dinner nirvana is a big platter of assorted soft, smooth, hard, salty, savory, smoky, creamy, lovely CHEESE. Plus some rice crackers, fruit, berries and red wine, of course. I could eat this meal any night of the week. You?

At any rate, while strolling along the outside edge of the market we ducked into Beecher’s after my friend Lindsey raved about their handmade cheeses. The line that snaked all the way to the back of the shop confirmed her suggestion, and we patiently waited in line for a few free samples while watching fresh cheese being made at the front of the store. After making our way up to the packed display case, and trying a few samples, I immediately fell in love with their creamy smoked cheese. It was definitely worth the wait!

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I first tried smoked cheese a couple years ago and have been a huge fan ever since, using a few varieties in dishes like Caprese Pasta Skillet, Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteaks, Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Sammies, and Breakfast Quesadillas.

On the way out of the shop I spied a freezer case with a few frozen meals featuring Beecher’s cheeses, and this Gluten Free Kale and Brown Rice Gratin immediately grabbed my attention. Gluten free? Awesome. Kale? Love it. Brown Rice? My jam. Cheese? Yes, please!

Not having any way of getting the frozen meal on a plane, I snapped a photo of the ingredient list with my iPhone and vowed to recreate the dish at home.

Of course I didn’t know exactly what it tasted like, so I used my instincts and worked in some smoked cheese as a nod to the sample I tried at Beecher’s, as well as my favorite fontina cheese, and made my own version at home…then nearly had to pull a Miranda Hobbs and drizzle the whole thing with dish soap because I could not stop eating it!

Sauteed kale and caramelized onions, chewy brown rice, and smoked cheese sauce are baked then dished up as a decadent side dish, or main meal with a side salad. Beyond the awesome textures of kale and brown rice going on here, the sweet caramelized onions were incredible with the smokey cheese sauce. This dish would actually be perfect with some leftover Easter ham thrown in – the smokey flavors would taste delicious together!

Start by cooking 1 cup brown rice in 2 cups chicken broth (could use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian) according to package directions. Mine took about 40 minutes, which is just the amount of time you need to prepare the rest of the dish.

Next start caramelizing 1 jumbo sweet onion. Cut the onion in half then into thin slices.

Add the slices to a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat with 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and a dash of salt, then cook until the onions are golden brown and very tender, stirring every so often. Mine took about 25 minutes.

While the onions are cooking, turn your attention to the kale. You’ll need 4 cups packed lacinato kale, which is about half a big bunch. You could use curly kale too – whichever you like better!

Slice the kale leaves off the stem, then stack and zip through ’em with your knife to shred.

Done!

Once the onions are soft and caramelized, add the kale plus 4 minced garlic cloves, salt, and pepper, and then saute for 3-4 minutes or until the kale is tender. Scoop the mixture into a large bowl then set aside.

In the same skillet, melt 1 Tablespoon butter then sprinkle in 2 Tablespoons gluten-free flour (I used brown rice flour, but use whatever you’ve got.)

Cook for 30 seconds then slowly pour in 1-1/2 cups milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. I used 2% milk – one of those 12oz single serving bottles which is the exact amount you need for this recipe – but again, use whatever you’ve got on hand!

Season with salt and pepper then turn the heat up slightly until the sauce is bubbling, then turn it back down to medium and cook until thick and bubbly, 5-6 minutes. Finally, remove the skillet from the heat then gradually add 1/2 cup each shredded fontina and smoked gouda cheese and stir until smooth.

Lke I said, this smoked gouda is a nod to the smoked cheese I had at Beecher’s. It really perfumes the whole dish with a fantastic smokey flavor!

At this point the brown rice should be done, so add it to the bowl with the kale and caramelized onions, then add the cheese sauce on top.

Stir the whole thing together then pour into a nonstick sprayed casserole dish, top with 1/4 cup more of each cheese, then bake for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees, or until brown and bubbly. Make sure you give that cheese a chance to get dark, golden brown. It really makes a flavor difference!

Let the gratin sit for at least 15 minutes to set up, then serve with a side salad, or as a decadent side dish with chicken or steak!

I cannot express to you how delicious this dish is. Perfectly cheesy, creamy, and swirled with hearty kale and caramelized onions. So, so incredible. Enjoy!