Vegetable Cheese Bake

Another post today and I am lost for words! Yes, that can happen to me at times. Rare, but possible. So I decided to post this photo instead to just give you guys a preview of what was happening outside the kitchen while I was cooking away happily :). A link here to the other recipes I did that day for my couple friends Divya & Mohan – Cheesy Garlic Bread and Coriander pesto pasta.

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Vegetable Cheese Bake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

For the veggies section

• 3 nos green chillies
• 5 pods garlic
• 2 nos large onions thinly sliced
• 4 cups mixed vegetables I used capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, beans, peas & corn
• 100 gms cottage cheese/ paneer optional
• 1 tsp garlic & herb seasoning any dried italian seasoning would do just fine.

For the white sauce

• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp corn flour all purpose flour/ wheat flour can be used instead
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic & herb seasoning
• 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese optional

For the dish finale

• 1 tsp melted butter/ room temperature butter
• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese/ any cheese of your choice

Instructions

Get the veggies ready

1. Heat a pan with some olive oil & saute the garlic & green chillies.
2. Add the onions and saute them for a bit (till they start to change in colour).
3. Add all the veggies in at this stage (I used a mix of capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, beans - all roughly chopped and frozen peas & corn).
4. Let the veggies cook by adding a bit of water. Add salt at this stage.
5. When the veggies start to soften, add the italian seasoning, paneer and let the veggies cook till they are soft/ cooked.
6. Transfer the veggies to a separate dish.

Whip up your white sauce

1. In the same pan, add the butter and let it melt. Then add the corn flour and whisk till it starts to brown (This is called a Roux).
2. Add the milk slowly and gently and keep whisking as you pour it all in. Ensure there are no lumps formed.
3. Once the milk comes to a boil, add the italian seasoning, freshly ground pepper & cheese (in case you are adding it in).
4. After a few mins you will notice the mixture will start thickening. At this stage, add back all the veggies & stir it in for 1-2 mins and turn off the heat.

The dish finale!!!!

1. Grease a glass dish with some butter and throw in the mixture that we just got ready.
2. Sprinkle all the cheese on top and bake the dish in a pre heated oven at 180c for 15-20 mins.
3. Slice up and serve the yumminess! 🙂

Recipe Notes

1. Note to self - I was somehow expecting the top layer to brown and it didn't. Need to look up and see if it requires mixing the cheese with some bread crumbs would give the look/ finish that's I envisioned.
2. I had added 2 cups of milk & 1 cup of water and the bake ended up being slightly watery and not firm. So cut out that in the recipe above.
3. Also, you could totally play around with the amount of veggies you use. The rest of the ingredients would be based on that.

Adya sitting quite literally on top of my MIL. He refused to sit any other way or do anything else for a while! It was cute to see them that way 🙂

A quick note about this dish – the main work here is cutting up veggies. Otherwise, it’s quick & easy. The chances of the dish turning out bad is very very remote. Do try and let me know your feedback.