Description
Irresistible creamy au gratin potatoes showcase layers of thinly sliced potatoes melted with rich cheese and cream. Comfort cuisine from France delivers a delectable side dish that will make diners crave more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900 g) russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded Gruyere or Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup additional shredded cheese
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsps butter
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Oven: Preheat oven to 375F (190C), creating an optimal environment for baking the creamy potato dish.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray, ensuring no potato layers will stick during cooking.
- Slice Potatoes: Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly and uniformly slice potatoes, removing skins and creating delicate, translucent rounds for layering.
- Layer and Season: Arrange potato slices in overlapping rows, alternating with salt, pepper, garlic, and grated cheese to distribute flavors throughout the dish.
- Create Cream Sauce: Whisk cream, garlic, salt, and pepper together until smooth, creating a rich and velvety liquid to saturate the potato layers completely.
- Assemble and Cover: Pour cream mixture over potatoes, ensuring complete coverage, then sprinkle remaining cheese on top and seal with aluminum foil.
- Bake and Finish: Place in preheated oven and cook for 45-50 minutes, removing foil during the final 15 minutes to allow the top to turn golden and crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let stand 10-15 minutes, allowing sauce to set and flavors to meld before presenting this luxurious potato gratin.
Notes
- Slice Potatoes Evenly: Use a mandoline slicer for consistent, thin potato rounds that cook uniformly and create a beautiful layered texture.
- Control Moisture Carefully: Pat potato slices dry before layering to prevent excess water that could make the dish soggy and compromise the creamy consistency.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Choose high-quality melting cheeses like Gruyère or sharp cheddar for maximum flavor and perfect golden-brown top.
- Prevent Burning: Watch closely during the final uncovered baking stage to ensure a golden crust without scorching the potatoes or cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg