Classic Potato Gratin Food

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Cut 1 garlic clove in half and rub the inside of a 3-qt. shallow baking dish with cut sides. Smear butter all over inside of dish. Bring shallots, cream, salt, pepper, 1 Tbsp. thyme, and remaining 4 garlic cloves to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat; cook until shallots and garlic are very soft, 15-20 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a blender; blend until smooth.
• Arrange potato slices in prepared dish, fanning out a handful at a time and placing in dish at an angle (this ensures every scoop will have tender potatoes from the bottom and crisp edges from the top). Shingle as you work until bottom of dish is covered. Tuck smaller slices into any gaps to fill. Pour cream mixture over potatoes and cover dish tightly with foil. Bake potatoes until tender and creamy, 60-75 minutes. Let cool.
• Place rack in highest position; heat broiler. Remove foil and top potatoes with Gruyere and Parmesan. Broil until cheese is bubbling and top of gratin is golden brown, 5-10 minutes. Serve topped with more thyme leaves.
• Do ahead
• Gratin can be baked 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before broiling.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish, and set aside.
• Whisk together cream, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the nutmeg in a small bowl, and set aside. Toss potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.
• Arrange one-third of potatoes in buttered dish, overlapping slices. Sprinkle with one-third of the cheese. Repeat two more times with remaining potatoes and cheese (end with a cheese layer). Pour reserved cream mixture over top layer. Gently shake dish back and forth to distribute evenly.
• Cover with foil; bake 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until bubbling and well browned, about 30 minutes more. Let cool slightly before serving.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Using a very sharp knife, a mandoline, or th slicing blade on a food processor, cut the potatoes into uniform 1/8-inch slices (no thicker).
• Put the potatoes in a large heavy-based saucepan and add the cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and garlic.
• Cook the mixture over medium-high heat until the cream boils, stirring occasionally (very gently with a rubber spatula so you don't break up the slices).
• When the cream boils, pour the mixture into a 2 1/2- or 3-qt.
• baking dish.
• If you don't want a tender but garlicky surprise mouthful, remove and discard the garlic cloves (I leave them in, they're delicious!).
• Shake the dish to let the slices settle and then sprinkle the cheese on top.
• Bake until the top is deep golden brown, the cream has thickened and bubbled, and the potatoes are extremely tender when pierced with a knife, about 40 min.
• Don't worry if the dish looks too liquidy at this point; it will set up as it cools a bit.
• Before serving, let the potatoes cool until they're very warm but not hot (at least 15 min.) or serve them at room temperature.
• Note: This is also great for breakfast, barely re-warmed in the microwave.

CLASSIC BISTRO POTATO GRATIN DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 2 quart flame proof casserole or gratin dish.
• Peel the potatoes and hold them in cold water until ready to proceed with the recipe.
• Combine the garlic, cream, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Dry the potatoes fully and cut them into rounds, beginning at one end, using a mandoline. Set the blade on the mandoline to cut a thin, 1/8-inch thick, slice. Place the potato slices into the gratin dish carefully layering them in a circular fashion. Pour the seasoned cream over the potatoes and shake the dish gently to allow the cream to flow towards the bottom of the dish.
• Place the gratin dish on the stovetop over low heat and begin to warm the contents until the cream has begun to simmer. Cook the potatoes in the seasoned cream for 5 minutes and then place the gratin dish into the oven.
• Bake the potatoes for 45 to 60 minutes until the top has browned to a rich golden color and the cream is bubbling along the side of the dish.
• Remove the gratin from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rub bottom and sides of shallow baking dish with garlic.
• Mince remaining garlic and set aside.
• Once garlic in dish has dried, about 2 minutes, spread dish with half the butter.
• Bring half-and-half, salt, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne , potatoes, and reserved garlic to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally with wooden spoon.
• Reduce heat and simmer until liquid thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Pour potato mixture into prepared dish; shake dish or use fork to distribute potatoes evenly.
• Gently press down potatoes until submerged in liquid; dot with remaining butter.
• Bake until top is golden brown (basting once or twice during first 45 minutes) for about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Let rest 5 minutes and serve.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Coat bottom and sides of 10-12C casserole dish with butter (aprox sizes would be rectangular 9 x 13" or oval 10 x 15") the dish can be ceramic or glass, and the sides should be 2-3" high though deeper will work as well, just not be as full looking.
• Rub the cut side of the garlic clove over the bottom and sides of dish.
• Place garlic, half and half and cream in a lg. pot.
• Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg (any proportion of half and half and cream can be used, even all all of one or the other, these 4C make a very creamy Gratin. You may use up to 1/2 C less if you would like).
• Peel a potoato and slice into 1/16" thick slices by hand or with a mandoline.
• Place slices directly into the cold cream mixture.
• Peel and slice the next potato, add to the cream, and repeat with the remaining potatoes.
• Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring almost constantly.
• Keep at a low simmer for 5-6 min, stirring, until the mixture thickens.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2C Parmesan.
• Pour into prepared dish, spreading evenly.
• Sprinkly remaining 1/2C parmesan over the top and place into oven.
• Bake about 40 Min until mixture is bubbly and the top is a deep golden crusty brown.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 20 min to set.
• The gratin will still be warm and hour out of the oven, and can be kept ready to serve in a gently warm oven.
• Refridgeate left overs and reheat in the oven or microwave to serve.

CLASSIC BISTRO STYLE GRATIN DAUPHINOIS - FRENCH GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300F/150C/gas mark 2.
• Take a heavy-bottomed dish or an ovenproof gratin dish (a Le Creuset is ideal - the potatoes tend not to catch), and grease it will with some of the butter.
• Layer the potato slices in the dish, slightly overlapping each other, seasoning lightly with the salt and pepper, and sprinkling a liberal amount of cheese on each layer.
• Sprinkle cheese on the top of the last layer.
• Put the double cream, garlic and sprigs of thyme in a pan and bring to them gently to the boil, then remove the thyme and pour hot cream over the potatoes.
• Dot the top of the gratin with the remaining butter and some extra cheese if you wish, and bake for about 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs, or until the potatoes are soft, and the top is crispy and golden brown.
• Serve bubbling hot as a main meal or as an accompaniment.

CLASSIC POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Rub bottom and sides of 6-cup gratin dish with garlic. Mince garlic and put aside. Wait about 2 minutes and spread about half the butter into dish.
• Bring half-and-half, salt, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne, potatoes, and garlic to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for about 2 minutes.
• Pour potato mixyure into prepared dish and distrbute potatoes eveny Gently press down potatoes until covered by liquid and dot with remaining butter.
• Bake until top is golden brown (basting once or twice during first 45 minutes) about 1 hour 15 minutes.