Description
Creamy, cheesy Potatoes au Gratin beckon with layers of comfort and indulgence from French culinary traditions. Rich potato slices nestled between melted cheese create a luxurious side dish that elevates any meal for you.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes:
- 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) potatoes
Cheeses:
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) parmesan cheese, grated (plus extra for topping)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 180C (356F) and generously coating a baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create a luxurious cream infusion by whisking together heavy cream, melted butter, aromatic minced garlic, sharp cheddar, nutty parmesan, and seasoning until smooth and well-combined.
- Transform potatoes into delicate, uniform slices using a mandoline or precision knife, ensuring each piece is consistently thin for even cooking.
- Thoroughly coat potato slices in the cream mixture, allowing each piece to absorb the rich, flavorful liquid and ensuring complete coverage.
- Arrange potato slices vertically in the prepared baking dish, creating an elegant, compact layered pattern that maximizes texture and presentation.
- Cascade remaining cream mixture over the arranged potatoes, allowing the liquid to seep between layers and enhance overall flavor and moisture.
- Season the surface with additional salt and pepper, then cover the dish with aluminum foil to trap steam and promote tender potato development.
- Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, maintaining consistent temperature to ensure potatoes become perfectly tender and absorb the creamy essence.
- Uncover the dish, generously sprinkle extra parmesan cheese across the surface, and return to the oven for a final 10-minute transformation.
- Allow the gratin to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the cream to settle and intensify flavors before serving this decadent potato masterpiece.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly using a mandoline for consistent cooking and elegant presentation.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like gruyère or gouda to add unique flavor profiles.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk to reduce overall calorie content.
- Consider adding herbs like thyme or rosemary between potato layers for extra aromatic depth and complexity.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 433
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 374 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg