Description
Mastering julia child scalloped potatoes reveals classic French culinary elegance with creamy layers of thinly sliced potatoes. Cheese and cream create rich, comforting flavors you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium russet potatoes (2 lbs / 907 g)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter (30 g), plus more for greasing
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (355 ml)
- ½ cup whole milk (120 ml)
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (4 oz / 113 g)
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 ½ oz / 43 g)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and lavishly butter an 8-inch square baking dish, ensuring complete interior coverage.
- Potato Processing: Meticulously slice potatoes into uniform 1/8-inch rounds using a mandoline, maintaining precise thickness for consistent cooking.
- Flavor Infusion: Combine potatoes with heavy cream, whole milk, butter, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a saucepan, creating a luxurious aromatic base. Simmer over medium heat until potatoes become slightly tender, stirring gently to prevent burning, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Cheese Integration: Remove from heat and delicately fold in Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, ensuring a smooth, velvety consistency throughout the mixture.
- Baking Process: Pour the potato-cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until the surface transforms into a golden-brown crust and potatoes reach complete tenderness when tested with a fork.
- Resting Stage: Remove from oven and allow the dish to rest for 10-12 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and the casserole to set before serving.
Notes
- Slice Strategically: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create perfectly uniform 1/8-inch potato rounds, ensuring even cooking and professional presentation.
- Prevent Scorching: Stir the cream mixture continuously over medium heat to avoid burning and develop rich, layered flavors without compromising texture.
- Cheese Distribution Matters: Gently fold cheeses to create a smooth, creamy consistency that coats every potato slice evenly for maximum flavor impact.
- Resting is Crucial: Allow the dish to rest 10-12 minutes after baking, letting the potatoes absorb remaining liquids and stabilize for a perfect, cohesive texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg