Fennel Gratin

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. 2
   Bring a pot of water to a boil.
3. 3
   Trim the fennel, then cut it into about 1/4-inch-thick slices and cook in the boiling water until just tender, less than 5 minutes.
4. 4
   Drain and layer in the shallow baking dish.
5. 5
   (You can also drain the vegetables, then stop their cooking by plunging them into ice water, then drain again.
6. 6
   In this manner you can finish the cooking up to a day or two later; increase the baking time to 20 minutes.)
7. 7
   Top the fennel with the bread crumbs, then with the cheese; season all with pepper to taste (hold off on salt, because the cheese is salty).
8. 8
   Put in the oven until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes.
9. 9
   Run the baking dish under the broiler until the top browns, checking every 30 seconds.
10. 10
    Serve hot or at room temperature.