Butternut Squash Gratin

This recipe is based on the classic potato gratin. However I love the nutty flavor of this squash and if you believe those that think potato is not a healthy vegetable (personally I think the humble spud is much maligned) it is a great alternative. 

Ingredients

1 Medium Butternut Squash
1 Medium Onion
ground black pepper

For the cheese sauce
200g Grated Cheddar Cheese  
400mls milk
Teaspoon of English mustard
35g butter
35g plain flour
salt and pepper to season

Soffritto

One of the keys to good dishes is a base of sweated vegetables such as onion, celery carrot and garlic which when cooked in olive oil, is called a Soffritto in Italian cookery. In other parts of the Mediterranean and Latin America where Europeans settled this base to dishes may include other vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms, and have other names such as mirepoix (/mɪərˈpwɑː/ meer-PWAH); but the idea is the same to give a base flavour to soups, sauces, risotto and stew type dishes.