lamb au gratin

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 large onion, diced small
• 2 carrots, diced small
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded havarti cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 large potatoes, thinly sliced
• salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 10 mins

Ready Time: 2 hrs 40 mins


• preheat oven to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c). thoroughly grease a covered baking dish.
• heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. cook and stir ground lamb in the hot skillet until some of the fat begins to render; add onion, carrots, and garlic. continue to cook and stir the mixture until the lamb is completely browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. stir soup mix into the lamb mixture; remove skillet from heat.
• melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. whisk flour into butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, making sure there are no lumps between additions. pour milk into the butter mixture while whisking; continue to whisk until the milk thickens and the mixture is smooth.
• switch heat below saucepan to 'off.' stir cheddar cheese and havarti cheese into the milk mixture until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
• spoon a small amount of the cheese sauce into the beaten egg in a bowl; whisk together to temper the egg. pour the tempered egg into the cheese sauce and stir.
• arrange sliced potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, overlapping to make a layer about 1/2-inch deep; season with salt and pepper. pour about 1/3 of the cheese sauce over the potatoes and spread into an even layer. spread the lamb mixture evenly atop the cheese sauce layer. layer remaining potatoes atop the lamb; season again with salt and pepper. pour remaining cheese over the top. cover baking dish.
• bake in preheated oven until the potatoes are tender, about 90 minutes. remove cover and continue baking until the top browns, about 30 minutes more.