Description
Cheesy potato gratin blends classic French culinary techniques with rich, creamy textures. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes meld with nutty parmesan and gruyere, creating a luxurious side dish you’ll crave at every meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 medium Yukon Gold or white potatoes
- 1 cup (240 ml) grated Gruyere cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 2 tsps kosher salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C) and position rack in the middle of the oven.
- Cream Infusion: Gently warm heavy cream with kosher salt and minced garlic in a saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes to release aromatic flavors. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Potato Layering: Using a mandoline, slice potatoes into uniform 1/8-inch thick rounds. Melt butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet and sauté shallots until golden and caramelized.
- Assembly: Arrange potato slices in an elegant overlapping circular pattern directly over the caramelized shallots, creating a visually appealing spiral design. Pour the infused cream evenly across the potato layers, ensuring complete coverage.
- Initial Baking: Cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, allowing potatoes to become tender and absorb the cream’s rich essence.
- Cheese Finishing: Remove foil, sprinkle grated Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses over the surface. Scatter fresh thyme leaves for an aromatic garnish. Switch oven to broil and return skillet to oven.
- Final Crisping: Broil for 4-5 minutes, vigilantly monitoring until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling, crispy crust. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the gratin to set and stabilize.
Notes
- Slice Precisely: Use a mandoline for uniform 1/8-inch potato slices to ensure even cooking and a professional presentation.
- Infuse Cream Carefully: Simmer garlic in cream on low heat to develop rich, aromatic flavors that will penetrate the entire dish.
- Layer Strategically: Arrange potato slices in an overlapping circular pattern to create an attractive spiral and promote even cooking.
- Watch Broiling Closely: Monitor the cheese topping during the final 5 minutes of broiling to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 545 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg