Chicken and Potato Gratin with Organic Spinach Filling

INSTRUCTIONS:

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish (8×10-inch) and set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the potatoes are almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spatula and drain on several thicknesses of paper towels.

Add the onions to the bacon fat in the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the spinach, stirring until it wilts. It may be necessary to do this in batches, depending on the size of your pan. Transfer the contents of the pan to a sieve set over a bowl and let the excess liquid drain.

In another medium saucepan, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and cream and whisk to blend, cooking until the bechamel sauce has thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.

Thinly slice the potatoes, then place a layer of potatoes, overlapping slightly, in the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover with the spinach mixture, then scatter the shredded chicken and bacon over the spinach layer. Add half of the cheese, and then top with the bechamel. Finish with a slightly overlapping layer of potatoes, then top with the remaining cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the potatoes are golden and tender, and the cheese has browned, 45 to 55 minutes. Serve hot.