Creamy Cabbage Gratin With Toasted Almonds - cabbage

Method

• Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
• Place cabbage into a colander and rinse briefly under cold running water until it is slightly damp.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over a moderately high heat, then add drained (but damp) cabbage.
• Stir well, and cover with a lid.
• Steam cabbage over a moderately high heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the cabbage is tender, but still a little crunchy.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cream, salt, pepper, sugar, nutmeg and paprika and stir to combine.
• When the cabbage is cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat and reduce the heat on the stove top to medium.
• Place 1 teaspoon oil into a small frypan.
• Heat oil in the frypan for a minute or two, then add the almonds, tossing constantly until they turn a light golden brown.
• Add the toasted almonds and the cream mixture to the cabbage and stir well.
• Grease a small (3 cup capacity) casserole or pyrex dish with butter or margarine.
• Transfer the cabbage mixture to this dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
• In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and cheese.
• Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the cabbage.
• (If you wish to make this dish several hours ahead of serving time, prepare it up to this stage, cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the refrigerator until needed).
• Bake on the centre shelf of a moderate 180C (350F) oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown- cooking time may be slightly longer if the dish has been refrigerated.