Description
Julia Child’s potato au gratin brings classic French comfort to family dinner tables with creamy, layered potato perfection. Rich cheese and buttery slices meld together, promising delicious memories you will savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) starchy potatoes, peeled and sliced ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick (russet, sebago, maris piper)
- 2.5 cups (280 g) gruyère cheese, freshly grated (or colby, cheddar, havarti, monterey jack)
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp pepper
- 2 tsps fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Creamy Garlic Infusion: Whisk melted butter, heavy cream, and finely chopped garlic in a mixing bowl until thoroughly blended.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C), creating an ideal cooking environment for the gratin.
- First Potato Layer: Spread one-third of thinly sliced potatoes across a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Initial Seasoning: Drizzle one-third of cream mixture over potatoes, then sprinkle salt, freshly ground black pepper, thyme leaves, and one-third of grated cheese for a robust flavor foundation.
- Layer Construction: Repeat the layering process with remaining potatoes, cream mixture, seasonings, and cheese, building a harmonious and flavorful composition.
- Moisture Preservation: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, creating a protective seal to maintain potato tenderness during initial cooking.
- Extended Roasting: Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes until potatoes become fork-tender, indicating complete cooking.
- Crispy Cheese Finale: Remove foil, scatter remaining cheese across the surface, and return to oven for 10-15 minutes to achieve a golden, bubbling crust.
- Resting Period: Allow gratin to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven, enabling flavors to meld and ingredients to settle before serving.
Notes
- Master Potato Thickness: Slice potatoes uniformly (1/8 inch) to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Prevent Cream Separation: Whisk cream mixture thoroughly to avoid ingredient splitting and guarantee a smooth, cohesive sauce.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Use high-quality, melting cheeses like Gruyère or aged cheddar for maximum flavor complexity and perfect golden-brown crust.
- Moisture Management: Cover with foil initially to trap steam, then uncover to develop a crispy, caramelized top layer that provides textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg