Classic Potato Gratin Recipes

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish, and set aside.
• Whisk together cream, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the nutmeg in a small bowl, and set aside. Toss potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.
• Arrange one-third of potatoes in buttered dish, overlapping slices. Sprinkle with one-third of the cheese. Repeat two more times with remaining potatoes and cheese (end with a cheese layer). Pour reserved cream mixture over top layer. Gently shake dish back and forth to distribute evenly.
• Cover with foil; bake 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until bubbling and well browned, about 30 minutes more. Let cool slightly before serving.

CREAMY AU GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a medium casserole dish.
• Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.

CLASSIC BISTRO POTATO GRATIN DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 2 quart flame proof casserole or gratin dish.
• Peel the potatoes and hold them in cold water until ready to proceed with the recipe.
• Combine the garlic, cream, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Dry the potatoes fully and cut them into rounds, beginning at one end, using a mandoline. Set the blade on the mandoline to cut a thin, 1/8-inch thick, slice. Place the potato slices into the gratin dish carefully layering them in a circular fashion. Pour the seasoned cream over the potatoes and shake the dish gently to allow the cream to flow towards the bottom of the dish.
• Place the gratin dish on the stovetop over low heat and begin to warm the contents until the cream has begun to simmer. Cook the potatoes in the seasoned cream for 5 minutes and then place the gratin dish into the oven.
• Bake the potatoes for 45 to 60 minutes until the top has browned to a rich golden color and the cream is bubbling along the side of the dish.
• Remove the gratin from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the cream and milk to a large saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the nutmeg, a big pinch of salt and some pepper. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes on a mandoline to 1/8-inch thick. Place the potatoes in the warm cream mixture and simmer gently until the potatoes are two-thirds of the way cooked and the cream has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Place a 9-by-12-inch flameproof gratin dish on the stove over low heat. Brush the bottom and the sides with the melted butter. Spread the garlic around the bottom of the dish. Cook just long enough to toast the garlic in the butter, 3 to 4 minutes. Add a layer of the potato mixture. Combine the Gruyere and Parmesan in a bowl, then sprinkle a third of the cheese over the potatoes. Repeat the layering 2 more times, finishing with the remaining cheese. Pick the thyme leaves and sprinkle over the top, mixing with last layer of cheese. Place the gratin dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbly and golden, 45 to 50 minutes (see Cook's Note).

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Coat bottom and sides of 10-12C casserole dish with butter (aprox sizes would be rectangular 9 x 13" or oval 10 x 15") the dish can be ceramic or glass, and the sides should be 2-3" high though deeper will work as well, just not be as full looking.
• Rub the cut side of the garlic clove over the bottom and sides of dish.
• Place garlic, half and half and cream in a lg. pot.
• Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg (any proportion of half and half and cream can be used, even all all of one or the other, these 4C make a very creamy Gratin. You may use up to 1/2 C less if you would like).
• Peel a potoato and slice into 1/16" thick slices by hand or with a mandoline.
• Place slices directly into the cold cream mixture.
• Peel and slice the next potato, add to the cream, and repeat with the remaining potatoes.
• Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring almost constantly.
• Keep at a low simmer for 5-6 min, stirring, until the mixture thickens.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2C Parmesan.
• Pour into prepared dish, spreading evenly.
• Sprinkly remaining 1/2C parmesan over the top and place into oven.
• Bake about 40 Min until mixture is bubbly and the top is a deep golden crusty brown.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 20 min to set.
• The gratin will still be warm and hour out of the oven, and can be kept ready to serve in a gently warm oven.
• Refridgeate left overs and reheat in the oven or microwave to serve.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Using a very sharp knife, a mandoline, or th slicing blade on a food processor, cut the potatoes into uniform 1/8-inch slices (no thicker).
• Put the potatoes in a large heavy-based saucepan and add the cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and garlic.
• Cook the mixture over medium-high heat until the cream boils, stirring occasionally (very gently with a rubber spatula so you don't break up the slices).
• When the cream boils, pour the mixture into a 2 1/2- or 3-qt.
• baking dish.
• If you don't want a tender but garlicky surprise mouthful, remove and discard the garlic cloves (I leave them in, they're delicious!).
• Shake the dish to let the slices settle and then sprinkle the cheese on top.
• Bake until the top is deep golden brown, the cream has thickened and bubbled, and the potatoes are extremely tender when pierced with a knife, about 40 min.
• Don't worry if the dish looks too liquidy at this point; it will set up as it cools a bit.
• Before serving, let the potatoes cool until they're very warm but not hot (at least 15 min.) or serve them at room temperature.
• Note: This is also great for breakfast, barely re-warmed in the microwave.