Description
Creamy scalloped potatoes delight potato enthusiasts with layers of cheesy goodness. Rich comfort from French-inspired cooking brings warmth to classic potato side dishes you’ll savor with pure pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs (1.36 kg) Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional, for extra flavor)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and lightly grease a rectangular baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- Sauce Creation: Melt butter in a saucepan, sauté garlic until fragrant, then whisk in flour to form a smooth roux. Gradually pour milk and cream, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, cooking until sauce thickens slightly.
- Cheese Integration: Remove sauce from heat and fold in cheddar cheese until completely melted and smooth.
- Layering Technique: Arrange potato slices in alternating layers with cream sauce, sprinkling Parmesan between each layer. Ensure even distribution and complete coverage of potatoes.
- Baking Process: Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle remaining cheddar on top, and continue baking until surface turns golden and crispy.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and sauce to set. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- Select Potato Thickness: Slice potatoes uniformly (1/8 inch thick) for even cooking and consistent texture, preventing undercooked or overcooked sections.
- Prevent Potato Browning: Submerge sliced potatoes in cold water immediately after cutting to remove excess starch and maintain pristine white appearance.
- Control Sauce Consistency: Whisk roux continuously and add liquid gradually to avoid lumps, ensuring silky smooth sauce that coats potatoes perfectly without separation.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Consider infusing sauce with additional herbs like thyme or rosemary, or experiment with cheese combinations like Gruyère for more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 571 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg