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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

5 French Casserole Recipes for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget

5 French Casserole Recipe Ideas for Personal Chefs by Ruth Paget 

Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book is a weighty cookbook reference book (607 pages) with many European recipes that make excellent use of seasonal produce when flavor should be at its peak and the harvest abundance should keep prices low. 

Five French casseroles that Grigson provides recipes for are easy and satisfying dishes that personal chefs at all skill levels can prepare: 

*artichoke gratin 

-This dish is made in a casserole dish with cooked artichoke bottoms and pulp from the base of the leaves mixed with quartered hard-boiled eggs. 

-Mornay sauce (béchamel sauce with grated gruyère cheese mixed in) is poured over the eggs and artichokes. 

-Cream is poured over the mornay sauce and bread crumbs are sprinkled on top of the casserole. 

-Bake until bubbly. 

*Variation 1 on artichoke gratin 

-Use mushrooms instead of artichokes to make the casserole. 

*Variation 2 on artichoke gratin 

-Use spinach instead of artichokes to make this casserole. (Layer the spinach in the bottom of the casserole dish) 

*Asparagus Fricassé 

-This dish is made with cubed chicken, turkey, veal, or lamb; cooked asparagus, young peas, and béchamel sauce.  Bake until bubbly. 

*Variation 1 on asparagus fricassee 

-Use cubed ham in the recipe and sprinkled bread crumbs on top.  Bake until bubbly 

Leftovers for all these casserole heat up nicely the next day. 

These French casseroles are great market day dinner selections that allow cooks to make use of seasonal produce for flavor and lower purchase price due to harvest abundance. 

Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book is organized in alphabetical order by vegetable name, making it easy to look for familiar and exotic recipes with market purchases in hand. 

Happy Cooking! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission,  French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games