Creamy Julia Child Potatoes Dauphinoise Recipe for Rich Sides

Potatoes dauphinoise dance with creamy decadence in this soul-warming French classic that elevates humble spuds to extraordinary heights.

This legendary gratin transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious culinary symphony that whispers pure comfort.

Gossamer-thin potato slices nestle together, bathed in rich cream and subtle herbs, creating a harmonious masterpiece.

Delicate golden edges promise crispy perfection while a silky interior melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Each carefully constructed layer tells a story of rustic elegance and gastronomic passion.

Cheese and aromatics weave magic through this irresistible side dish, promising to seduce even the most discerning palate.

One bite might just transport you to a cozy French countryside kitchen, ready to fall deeply in love with this sublime potato creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 5

Potatoes Dauphinoise à la Julia Ingredients

• Potatoes: Choose firm, waxy varieties with smooth skin and no sprouts or green patches.
• Mandoline or Sharp Knife: Ensures precise, uniform potato slices for even cooking.

• Melted Butter, Heavy Cream: Select high-quality dairy for rich, luxurious texture.
• Garlic: Pick plump, firm cloves with tight, unbroken skin for robust flavor.
• Gruyere Cheese: Look for aged, nutty wheels with minimal cracks or discoloration.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Opt for freshly ground pepper and kosher salt for balanced, bright taste.
• Fresh Thyme: Choose vibrant green sprigs with strong aromatic leaves, avoiding wilted or dry herbs.

Gear for Slicing and Baking Dauphinoise

• Mandoline or Sharp Knife: Perfect for creating uniform, thin potato slices.
• Mixing Bowl: Essential for whisking cream, butter, and garlic into a smooth base.
• 9×13 Inch Baking Dish: Provides the ideal space for layering potatoes and creating a beautiful gratin.
• Paper Towels: Helps dry potato slices for better texture and browning.
• Aluminum Foil: Covers dish during initial baking to ensure even cooking.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Guarantees precise ingredient amounts.
• Cheese Grater: Shreds gruyere cheese for melty, delicious layers.
• Sharp Knife: Checks potato tenderness and helps with serving.
• Whisk: Blends cream mixture until silky and aromatic.

How to Make Creamy Potatoes the Julia Way

Create Heavenly Potato Gratin

Dive into a culinary adventure that transforms simple potatoes into a creamy, cheesy masterpiece that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy.

• Craft the Flavor Foundation

Whisk together melted butter, heavy cream, and minced garlic until the mixture becomes a silky, aromatic dream. This magical base will infuse every potato slice with incredible richness.

• Prepare the Potato Canvas

Wash and peel potatoes, then slice them into delicate, paper-thin rounds using a mandoline or sharp knife. Pat the slices dry to ensure maximum crispiness and perfect texture.

• Layer with Love

Butter a baking dish and start building your gratin masterpiece. Arrange potato slices in beautiful overlapping patterns, generously drizzling the cream mixture between each layer. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme to add depth and excitement to each bite.

• Cheese Transformation

Generously shower each layer with shredded gruyere cheese, creating pockets of melty goodness. Build three luscious layers, saving a final cheese sprinkle for the crowning glory.

• Bake to Perfection

Cover the dish with foil and bake until potatoes become meltingly tender. Then uncover and let the cheese transform into a golden, bubbling crust that promises irresistible flavor.

• Serve and Celebrate

Let the gratin rest briefly, allowing flavors to settle. Slice and serve this luxurious side dish that turns an ordinary meal into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Tips for Crisp Top, Tender Inside

• Enhance Your Potato Gratin Adventure
• Slice Precisely: Use a mandoline for ultra-thin, consistent potato rounds that cook evenly and create elegant layers. Sharp knives work too, but mandolines guarantee professional-looking results.
• Cheese Swap Magic: Experiment with different cheese varieties like sharp cheddar, fontina, or parmesan to transform the flavor profile. Each cheese brings a unique taste and melting characteristic.
• Herbal Boost: Customize your gratin by adding fresh rosemary, sage, or tarragon instead of thyme. Chopped herbs elevate the dish's aromatic complexity and provide delightful flavor nuances.
• Crispy Texture Hack: For extra crunch, sprinkle breadcrumbs or crushed nuts between layers before final cheese topping. These additions create delectable textural contrast against the creamy potato background.

Presenting Potatoes Dauphinoise

• Pair With Protein Companions: Complement this creamy potato gratin with roasted chicken, tender beef tenderloin, or succulent lamb chops for a complete and satisfying meal.
• Garnish With Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped parsley, chives, or rosemary on top just before serving to add a burst of color and bright, fresh flavor that elevates the rich dish.
• Create Balanced Side Dishes: Balance the heaviness of the gratin with a light, crisp green salad or steamed seasonal vegetables to provide a refreshing contrast and nutritional variety.
• Wine Pairing Magic: Select a crisp white wine like Chardonnay or a light-bodied Pinot Noir that will cut through the richness and complement the creamy, cheesy texture of the potato layers.

Storing French Potato Leftovers

• Preserve Peak Freshness: Store leftover potato gratin in airtight containers within the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover tightly to maintain moisture and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Reheat with Care: Warm individual portions in microwave for 1-2 minutes or restore crispy top by placing in oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10-15 minutes. Add splash of cream to prevent drying out during reheating.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Wrap cooled potato gratin securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating to preserve texture and flavor.
• Smart Portioning: Slice gratin into individual servings before storing. This technique helps prevent repeated reheating of entire dish, which can compromise taste and texture. Use parchment paper between layers when stacking in storage container to prevent sticking.

Creamy Julia Child Potatoes Dauphinoise Recipe

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4.7 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Creamy julia child potatoes dauphinoise reveal French culinary elegance with layers of thinly sliced potatoes, rich cream, and cheese. Comfort and sophistication merge in this classic gratin that will transport diners straight to Parisian kitchens.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) starchy potatoes (russet, sebago, maris piper)
• 2.5 cups gruyere cheese, freshly grated (or colby, cheddar, havarti, tasty)
• 1.5 cups full-fat cream
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 2 tsps fresh thyme leaves (optional)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 180°C (350°F), establishing the perfect thermal environment for a luxurious potato gratin.
2. Cream Mixture Creation: Whisk melted butter, heavy cream, and finely minced garlic in a mixing jug until harmoniously blended, forming the flavor foundation.
3. Potato Transformation: Meticulously cleanse and strip potatoes, then slice into uniform 1/8-inch rounds using a mandoline or precision knife, ensuring consistent culinary execution.
4. Dish Conditioning: Generously lubricate a rectangular baking vessel to prevent adherence and facilitate seamless serving.
5. Strategic Layering: Construct a potato foundation by meticulously arranging slices in an overlapping mosaic, then cascade the cream elixir, allowing it to infiltrate between delicate potato layers.
6. Seasoning Ritual: Dust each stratum with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried thyme, calibrating flavor profiles with measured precision.
7. Cheese Integration: Disperse grated cheese across layers, creating pockets of melting decadence that will transform during thermal exposure.
8. Moisture Sealing: Envelop the baking dish with aluminum foil, trapping internal humidity and promoting uniform heat distribution.
9. Thermal Transformation: Bake for approximately 75-90 minutes, periodically testing potato tenderness with a sharp knife, allowing the gratin to evolve into a creamy masterpiece.
10. Crisp Finale: Unveil the dish, crown with remaining cheese, and return to the oven, transforming the surface into a golden, bubbling landscape of culinary perfection.
11. Resting Phase: Permit the gratin a brief 5-minute respite, allowing layers to harmonize and structural integrity to stabilize before presentation.

Notes

• Slice Consistently: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to cut potatoes precisely 1/8-inch thick, ensuring uniform cooking and elegant presentation.
• Layer Carefully: Build potato layers methodically, allowing cream to penetrate between slices for maximum flavor absorption and creamy texture.
• Monitor Baking Time: Check potato tenderness after 1 hour by inserting a knife; cooking duration might extend to 1.5 hours depending on potato thickness and oven variations.
• Rest Before Serving: Allow gratin to rest 5 minutes post-baking, which helps layers stabilize and makes cutting and serving smoother without losing structural integrity.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg