Description
Cheesy potatoes au gratin showcase creamy layers of thinly sliced potatoes nestled between rich cheese and cream. Classic French comfort brings delightful warmth to dinner tables where you’ll savor each comforting, golden-edged bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) potatoes, russet or Yukon Gold, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream or whole milk (lighter version)
- 1 cup (113 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (50 g) Gruyere or mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional, for extra cheesiness)
- 2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp thyme (optional)
- Fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Meticulously clean and slice potatoes into translucent, uniform layers using a mandoline or sharp knife, ensuring precision and consistency.
- Baking Vessel Setup: Thoroughly coat a rectangular ceramic dish with butter, creating a non-stick surface that promises effortless serving and easy cleanup.
- Aromatic Cream Base: Melt butter in a saucepan, introducing minced garlic and allowing its robust essence to infuse. Incorporate heavy cream, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper, whisking to create a fragrant, velvety liquid that will elevate the potato layers.
- Layering Technique: Arrange potato slices in an overlapping, cascading pattern within the buttered dish, ensuring each delicate layer is strategically positioned to maximize flavor absorption and create a visually stunning presentation.
- Cream Infusion: Gently pour the seasoned cream mixture over the potato layers, guaranteeing complete coverage and allowing the liquid to penetrate every crevice, promising a luxuriously creamy texture.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle grated cheese across the surface, creating a protective layer that will transform into a golden, crisp crust during baking.
- Baking Process: Place the gratin in a preheated oven, allowing the potatoes to slowly transform into a bubbling, caramelized masterpiece that combines creamy interior with a perfectly bronzed exterior.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from the oven and let the gratin rest momentarily, enabling flavors to harmonize and internal temperature to stabilize before presenting this culinary delight.
Notes
- Slice Precisely: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniform, thin potato slices for even cooking and consistent texture.
- Prevent Sticking: Generously butter the baking dish to ensure easy serving and prevent potatoes from adhering to the surface.
- Flavor Infusion: Allow garlic to steep in melted butter briefly to release its full aromatic potential before adding cream.
- Cheese Selection: Choose a high-quality, melting cheese like Gruyère or sharp cheddar for optimal flavor and golden-brown crust.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg