Potatoes au Gratin
Potatoes au gratin is a classic French dish made with sliced potatoes that are cooked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. We stick to a classic seasoning with salt and pepper mixed with mornay sauce and baked in the oven until the top layer is golden brown and crispy, allowing the rich and creamy flavours to take centre stage. It is a comforting and delicious casserole that complements any main dish. Serve it as a side with roasted meat, fish, or vegetables.
Ingredients
|
1 kilo
Potatoes
|
|
|---|---|
|
2
Yellow white onions (coarsely chopped)
|
|
|
1 tsp
Salt
|
|
|
1 pinch
Black pepper
|
|
|
350 ml
Double cream
|
|
|
30 g
Butter
|
|
|
350 g
Cheese
|
&format=webp)
Choosing the potato
To get the best potatoes au gratin, use potatoes that will hold their shape when baked in the oven but still bake up tender. Yukon gold, waxy potatoes, and red potatoes are well-suited because they have relatively thin skin, and their texture holds up well when cut into slices.
Using the correct tools
Use a sharp knife or mandolin to slice the potatoes evenly. This step is essential to ensure that they are fully cooked and have a consistent texture. Remember to soak the potatoes in cold water to remove any excess starch and prevent them from turning brown.
Baking
Be sure to bake the dish until the top is golden brown and crispy. Potatoes au gratin bakes for roughly 1 hour. You will know it is done if you insert a knife or toothpick into the centre of the casserole through one or more potato slices and it comes out clean. It is best to let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving. This will help the flavours meld together and will make it easier to cut and serve.
Questions about potatoes au gratin
Learn how to make French potatoes au gratin from scratch with our easy recipe. All you need is a few simple ingredients to recreate this cheesy dish. Read on to learn more about this French-inspired classic.
What is potatoes au gratin?
Potatoes au gratin is a traditional French dish consisting of sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce and covered with grated cheese. The potatoes are layered in a baking dish with, for example, mornay sauce, white sauce, or cream. The dish is then baked in the oven until golden and bubbly. It is typically served as a side dish, but it also works great as a main dish served with a salad or green vegetables.
How to make potatoes au gratin?
Make our simple potatoes au gratin by peeling potatoes and cutting them into slices. Rinse the slices well, pat them dry, and layer them with onion and spices in a greased ovenproof dish. Top with mornay sauce. Bake it in the middle rack of the oven for about 1 hour at 200°C until the potatoes are tender and golden.
What goes with potatoes au gratin?
Potatoes au gratin is a rich and comforting dish that pairs well with a variety of meats, poultry, and fish, making it a superb versatile side dish to complement any main dish. Some popular options include roasted or grilled beef and pork, salmon, cod, chicken, and lamb steaks. You can also pair it with a simple green vinaigrette salad or Brussels sprouts.
Can you freeze potatoes au gratin?
Yes, potatoes au gratin can be frozen for up to 3 months. However, it is best to eat it within the first month of freezing to get the best quality. Cook the dish fully before freezing, as the potatoes will become mushy if they are not fully cooked before being frozen. Once the dish has been baked and cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the freezer. When you are ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating it in the oven.
How to reheat potatoes au gratin?
To reheat potatoes au gratin in the oven, cover the with foil and bake it in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 175°C. If you have frozen the dish, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating it. After 15-20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to brown the top. Though you can also use the microwave, we do not recommend doing so as it can result in a less-than-desirable texture with overcooked and dry edges and a centre that is undercooked and mushy.
Homemade potatoes au gratin in the oven
Discover a simple cheesy all-time favourite with this recipe for potatoes au gratin. The term ‘au gratin’ is a French culinary term used to describe a dish cooked with cheese and cream that often has a crispy top. The classic dish is considered a staple in French cuisine but has become quite popular across the world for being an irresistibly creamy, cheesy comfort food.
What makes it so unbelievably delicious is the combination of creamy cheese sauce with layers of thinly sliced potatoes and chopped onion covered with mornay sauce, creating rich and decadent flavours. Baked to perfection with a golden hue and crispy top, it is usually served as a side, but no rule says it cannot be the main attraction.
Serve with various main dishes
Creamy potatoes au gratin is a rich and decadent side that is perfect for a special occasion or an easy weeknight dinner with the family. Because of its simple and creamy taste, it pairs well with a variety of different flavours and cuisines. The classic side dish goes well with a wide range of main dishes, from a simple roast chicken to a fancy steak alongside a salad.
If you want to find the perfect dish with which to serve potatoes au gratin, you should take a look at our recipes for stuffed pork tenderloin, simple meatloaf with cheese and bell peppers, or classic beef Wellington as well as various salad recipes like our authentic Greek salad, roast pumpkin salad with black beans, or broccoli saladwith bacon and raisins.
Make cheesy potatoes au gratin with mornay sauce
Impress your family and friends with a homemade cheesy meal full of rich flavours and texture. Despite its fancy name, this classic dish is much easier to prepare than you might think. With our straightforward recipe, you can make quick potatoes au gratin in a few easy steps with a handful of simple ingredients. Making the classic casserole with mornay sauce instead of a traditional white sauce adds a richer, cheesier, more distinct flavour to the dish. Overall, it is a great way to add more depth to the gooey layers. Enjoy this luscious and satisfying comfort food full of creamy goodness between layers of tender potatoes with a scrumptious touch of melted cheese in the sauce.
Experiment with the ingredients
It is easy to give the potatoes au gratin a distinctive twist and make the dish your own. For a gooey and richer texture, try adding grated cheese on top, for example, Gruyere, cheddar, or gouda. You can also add some bacon or ham to give it a smoky and salty smack. Vegetables like onions, leeks, bell peppers, and mushrooms are also great add-ins as they offer both colour and flavour. Experiment with herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme, chilli, and nutmeg to give it an aromatic taste with a bit of heat.
