This croquette gratin with ground meat is a real classic in our house. It came about out of necessity when I came home late from work again and had to put something quick and hearty on the table. The combination of the crispy croquettes, the spicy ground meat sauce and the melted cheese immediately convinced everyone. Since then, it has been a permanent part of our repertoire, especially on cold days or when things simply need to be quick. The ingredients are deliberately kept simple, but each one plays an important role. The ground beef forms the basis for the hearty sauce. It shouldn't be too lean, as a little fat is the flavor carrier. The onion and garlic provide the aromatic base, while the tomato paste adds a slight acidity and depth. The chopped tomatoes bring juiciness and a fruity note to the sauce. The sour cream makes the sauce creamy and softens the acidity of the tomatoes. The parsley provides a fresh, green note. The frozen croquettes are, of course, the highlight of the whole thing. They are quick to prepare and form a great, crispy base for the gratin. And the grated cheese? That provides the golden brown, delicious crust that everyone simply loves! The preparation with the Thermomix® is very simple. First, the onion and garlic are chopped. It is important not to mix for too long, otherwise they will become mush. A few seconds on speed 5 is completely sufficient. Then I fry the ground meat in a separate pan. This gives it a nice roasted aroma that cannot be achieved in the Thermomix®. I then add the chopped onions and garlic to the ground meat and sauté them briefly. Then add the tomato paste, which is briefly roasted to lose its acidity. The chopped tomatoes, sour cream and parsley are then stirred in and everything is seasoned with salt and pepper. The finished ground meat sauce is then placed in a baking dish and topped with the frozen croquettes. Finally, the grated cheese is sprinkled on top and placed in the oven! There are many possible variations. For a vegetarian version, the ground meat can be replaced with soy granules or lentils. Adding vegetables such as peppers, zucchini or mushrooms is also a great way to spice up the gratin. If you like it spicy, you can add some chili or cayenne pepper. Other herbs such as oregano, thyme or rosemary also go perfectly. For a vegan version, you can use vegan ground meat, vegan sour cream and vegan cheese. The croquette gratin is best served hot from the oven. A fresh salad or a dip such as sour cream or guacamole goes well with it. A garlic baguette is also a delicious side dish. Leftovers of the croquette gratin can easily be stored in the refrigerator. It still tastes good the next day when reheated in the oven or microwave. You can also prepare the gratin well in advance. The ground meat sauce can be prepared the day before. Then all you have to do the next day is spread the croquettes on top, sprinkle with cheese and bake. This saves time and you still have a delicious, homemade meal on the table.

Hearty Croquette Gratin with Ground Meat

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Ingredients (12 ingredients)

Preparation (4 steps)

Chop onion and garlic

Prepare ground meat

Put ground meat sauce in baking dish

Bake casserole

Finished cooking? Great! 🎉

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