French Potato Gratin Recipes

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).

CLASSIC FRENCH GRATIN DAUPHINOIS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the potatoes, milk, and garlic to a gentle simmer.
• Continue to cook the potatoes, gently stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a simmer, until just tender, about 15 minutes. Be very careful not to overcook them as they need to hold their shape for layering in the pan. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 F.
• Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, taking care not to break the slices. Drain the milk from the pan and reserve for another use. Add the heavy cream, crème fraiche or sour cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Gently return the potatoes to the pan.
• Heat the potato-cream mixture to barely a simmer (a few bubbles are fine but no more) for 10 to 15 minutes until the potatoes are very tender but not falling apart.
• Butter a large baking dish. Transfer the potatoes to the baking dish with a slotted spoon, layering them without breaking them up too much.
• Cover with the cream from the pan.
• Sprinkle the Gruyere cheese over the potatoes (if using).
• Bake in the oven until the potatoes are golden brown on top and the cream is mostly absorbed, about 50 minutes.
• Serve with your favorite main dish. Enjoy!

FRENCH POTATO DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 350 F. Rub inside of baking dish with garlic clove and use 1 tablespoon of butter to grease dish.
• In a large saucepan, heat milk and 3/4 cup cream until bubbles appear around sides of pan. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg lightly.
• Gradually whisk in hot milk mixture. Use a thin stream to temper egg; adding too much hot liquid can make scrambled eggs.
• Once all the hot liquid is mixed with the egg, add 3/4 cup of the cheese and return mixture to saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, continuously stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes to melt cheese. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Add potato slices to sauce and stir to coat.
• Transfer potatoes to buttered baking dish and spread out in an even layer.
• Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and add remaining butter on top cubed in tiny pieces.
• Place baking dish in oven and raise heat to 400 F. Bake for 1 hour.
• Transfer gratin to a heat-proof surface and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Loosen sides of the gratin with a flat knife and brush top of gratin with remaining 3/4 cup of heavy cream.
• Return baking dish to oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let gratin finish browning in the receding heat for 30 minutes longer.

FRENCH ONION SOUP POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• For the caramelized onions: In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Once melted and bubbling, add a large handful of the onions and cook until translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Repeat until all the onions have been added. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn medium brown, about 30 minutes. If the onions start to get too dark, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of beef stock as necessary. Add the sherry to deglaze the pan. Add the mustard and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the potato gratin: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin slices. Do your best to keep the potatoes in a stack--this will make it easier to layer them in the pan. Set the potatoes aside.
• Use the reserved butter wrapper to lightly grease the bottom and sides of a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet. Discard the wrapper.
• Arrange a thin shingled layer of potatoes in concentric circles around the skillet. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, then arrange an even layer of caramelized onions on top of the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a medium bowl, combine the Gruyere and mozzarella and reserve half for later use. Sprinkle on a layer of the remaining cheese mixture over the onions. Repeat the layers until all the ingredients (not including the reserved cheese) have been used. Press down firmly on the layers to flatten.
• In a large bowl or measuring cup, combine the heavy cream and beef stock and pour over the gratin. Cover the skillet with foil and place on a sheet pan. Bake the potatoes, covered, until the top and edges have begun to brown and the potatoes are tender, 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. You can test by inserting a knife into the potatoes; if it goes in and comes out without resistance, then the potatoes are done.
• Remove the skillet from the oven, remove the foil and turn the broiler on high. Combine the croutons and French fried onions. Cover the gratin with a layer of the crouton mixture followed by the remaining cheese. Broil until golden brown and bubbly, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

FRENCH POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Peel and slice potatoes thinly.
• Use a food processor if available.
• Lightly grease an ovenproof casserole.
• Layer potato slices in casserole, sprinkling each layer with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Press garlic over mixture.
• Add cream and milk.
• You may prepare ahead of time up to this step.
• Bake at 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes, or until potatoes are soft and creamy and golden brown on surface.

CLASSIC POMMES BOULANGèRE - FRENCH GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 150C/300F/Gas mark 3.
• Butter a large shallow ovenproof dish.
• Peel potatoes thinly, do not rinse.
• Peel and slice the onions thinly.
• Using a mandolin slice if possible,slice the potatoes very thinly, again do not rinse.
• Arrange the potatoes over the base of the dish slightly overlapping, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and then add the sliced onions.
• Continue until all the potatoes & onions are used up, ending with a potato layer.
• Pour over the hot stock.
• Brush with the top of the potatoes with the melted butter.
• Place the potatoes on the high shelf of the oven for 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs or until tender and the top layer is a crisp golden brown.
• Serve immediately with roasted meats, as an alternative to roast potatoes, or with a pot roast, hot-pot and vegetables.