Description
Crispy Parmesan and Gruyere Potato Gratin delivers French countryside comfort with golden-edged layers of creamy potatoes and melted cheeses. Luxurious ingredients and classic techniques combine for an irresistible side dish you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 medium Yukon Gold or White potatoes
- 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cheese Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Liquid and Aromatics:
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 degrees Celsius).
- In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream, kosher salt, and minced garlic. Gently heat on low, allowing the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes to intensify the garlic’s aromatic essence. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Utilize a mandoline slicer to create uniform potato slices approximately 1/8 inch (3 millimeters) thick, ensuring consistent cooking.
- Melt butter in a 12-inch (30-centimeter) cast iron skillet and sauté finely chopped shallots over low heat for 5 minutes until they develop a rich, golden caramelization.
- Artfully arrange the potato slices in an overlapping circular pattern atop the caramelized shallots, creating an aesthetically pleasing spiral design.
- Delicately pour the infused cream mixture evenly over the layered potatoes, ensuring complete coverage.
- Securely cover the cast iron pan with aluminum foil and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, allowing the potatoes to become tender and absorb the cream’s flavors.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven and adjust the oven setting to broil.
- Generously sprinkle grated Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses over the potato surface. Scatter fresh thyme leaves for an aromatic finishing touch.
- Return the pan to the oven and broil for 5 minutes, watching closely until the cheese transforms into a crispy, bubbling golden crust.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving warm, allowing the gratin to set slightly.
Notes
- Achieve restaurant-quality potato gratin with a crispy, golden cheese topping that transforms a simple side dish into an elegant meal centerpiece.
- Use a mandoline slicer for perfectly uniform potato slices, ensuring even cooking and a professional-looking presentation that impresses guests.
- Infusing cream with garlic creates a rich, aromatic base that elevates the entire dish with deep, sophisticated flavor layers.
- Caramelizing shallots before adding potatoes builds a foundation of sweetness and complexity that complements the creamy, cheesy texture.
- Broiling at the end creates a stunning golden-brown cheese crust that adds irresistible crunch and visual appeal to the gratin.
- Cast iron pan guarantees even heat distribution and helps develop a beautiful crispy bottom layer that turns this side dish into a memorable culinary experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg