Chef Johns Truffled Potato Gratin Recipes

MOM'S SCALLOPED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with 2 tablespoons butter and set aside.
• Peel potatoes and cut at a 45-degree angle into 1/4-inch thick round slices.
• Arrange 1/3 of the potato slices in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared dish. Season the layer very generously with salt, and sparingly with the freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne, if using. Top evenly with 1/3 of the Cheddar cheese. Repeat this process two more times for a total of three layers of potatoes, except for the last third of the cheese. Slowly and carefully pour in the milk, without upsetting the layers. The milk should almost, but not quite, cover the potatoes.
• Top with remaining Cheddar cheese and place the casserole dish on a sheet pan to catch any drips.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and the top is well browned and bubbling, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

TRUFFLED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups cream, chopped thyme, black peppercorns, and 3 garlic cloves in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes. Add remaining 2 garlic cloves. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Strain cream into bowl.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange 1/4 of potatoes in even layer in dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Scatter 1/4 of truffle slices over. Spoon 1/4 of cream over. Repeat 3 more times, sprinkling any truffle liquid from jars over potato layers. Pour 2 cups cream over. Press potatoes firmly to compact. Cover dish with foil.
• Bake gratin 1 hour. Uncover and bake until top is brown, potatoes are tender, and cream bubbles thickly, about 20 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

TRUFFLED CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk flour into butter; cook and stir until raw flour taste cooks off, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk milk into flour mixture. Increase heat to medium-high; cook and stir until mixture thickens and comes to a simmer, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir truffled pecorino cheese, salt, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg into milk mixture until cheese sauce is thick.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add cauliflower and cook until slightly tender, about 6 minutes. Drain and transfer cauliflower to prepared baking dish. Spread cheese sauce evenly over cauliflower. Dust with bread crumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh chives.