Creamed Green Cabbage

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This luscious casserole is a twist on traditional creamed vegetable dishes. Shredded cabbage and lemon zest bring texture and tang to the table, while milk, butter, and grated Pecorino Romano cheese form a rich, velvety sauce.

Ingredients

  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

  • 1 small head green cabbage (about 2 ½ pounds), cored and shredded (10 cups)

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups warm whole milk

  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese (½ ounce)

  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from 2 lemons)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring 1 inch salted water to a boil in a Dutch oven or large pot. Add cabbage. Cover, and steam, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, and let cool slightly. Squeeze out excess water using a kitchen towel.

  2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, and cook until bubbling but not browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk. Cook, stirring, until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add 1/4 cup cheese and the lemon zest. Immediately fold cabbage into sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

  3. Spoon mixture into a shallow (6-cup) casserole dish. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon cheese. Bake until bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

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