Scalloped Potatoes With Caramelized Fennel Food

SCALLOPED POTATOES AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs in bottom of prepared baking dish. Combine cream, coarse salt, and white pepper in large bowl.
• Cut off any stalks and fronds from fennel bulbs; discard stalks. Finely chop fennel fronds; cover and chill. Using V-slicer or mandoline, thinly slice fennel bulbs. Layer half of fennel slices evenly atop garlic and rosemary in baking dish. Peel potatoes and place immediately in large bowl of cold water to prevent discoloration. Working with 1 potato at a time, use a V-slicer or mandoline to thinly slice into rounds. Immediately add potatoes to bowl with cream mixture, turning to coat potatoes. Arrange half of potato slices evenly over fennel slices in baking dish, reserving cream mixture in bowl. Repeat layering with remaining fennel slices, then remaining potato slices. Pour cream mixture in bowl over fennel-potato mixture in baking dish. Dot with butter cubes. Cover baking dish with foil, doming foil slightly (do not allow foil to touch potatoes).
• Bake scalloped potatoes until almost tender when pierced with knife, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Remove foil and bake uncovered until potatoes are tender and top is deep golden brown, about 20 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved fennel fronds and serve.

SCALLOPED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, heat up the cream with the bay leaves, thyme, garlic, nutmeg and some salt and pepper.
• While the cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bay leaves and thyme. Pour the heated cream into a large bowl with the potato slices. Mix gently to coat the potatoes. Dust the Parmesan over the potatoes. Season the mix with a little bit of salt and pepper. Mix to gently incorporate. Spoon a little bit of the cream into the bottom of the casserole dish. Then spoon the potatoes in. Level out the potatoes for uniform cooking time. Pour the remaining cream at the bottom of the bowl over the top. Top with some Parmesan and fresh thyme leaves. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, but pull back one corner for the steam to escape. Bake for 40 minutes.

POTATO-FENNEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the inside of a 10-by-15-by-2-inch (10-cup) baking dish.
• Remove the stalks from the fennel and cut the bulbs in half lengthwise. Remove the cores and thinly slice the bulbs crosswise, making approximately 4 cups of sliced fennel. Saute the fennel and onions in the olive oil and butter on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until tender.
• Peel the potatoes, then thinly slice them by hand or with a mandoline. Mix the sliced potatoes in a large bowl with 2 cups of cream, 2 cups of Gruyère, salt, and pepper. Add the sauteed fennel and onion and mix well.
• Pour the potatoes into the baking dish. Press down to smooth the potatoes. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of cream and 1/2 cup of Gruyère and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, until the potatoes are very tender and the top is browned and bubbly. Allow to set for 10 minutes and serve.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 13x9x2" or other 3-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add fennel; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is evenly coated with fat and begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add wine and 1 bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and fennel is golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add 1-2 tablespoons water to deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan for added flavor. Discard bay leaf. Set fennel aside.
• Bring remaining bay leaf, potatoes, cream, milk, and garlic to a simmer in a large wide pot (watch carefully; do not let mixture boil over). Season with salt and pepper and cover with lid slightly ajar; simmer gently until potatoes are just tender and liquid has thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf and garlic.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1/3 of potatoes to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Comté. Cover with half of fennel. Repeat process, finishing with remaining 1/3 cup Comté. Pour cream mixture over. Cover gratin tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake gratin until top is bubbling and golden, about 30 minutes longer. DO AHEAD: Gratin can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Rewarm, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook until bubbling around edges and warmed through in the center, about 20 minutes longer.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH HEAVY CREAM AND CHEESE

Steps:

• First: Please read the introduction.
• Slice the potatoes into 1/8 inch slice.
• Place in bowl and cover with cold water.
• Let soak for at least an hour.
• Drain well and pat dry.
• Heat oven to 300°F.
• Using 1 T of the butter coat the bottom and sides of a 10 inch, 2" deep casserole.
• Arrange potatoes in layers, after each layer add cheese, pepper and small amount of butter.
• Repeat to use all the potatoes, finishing the top with cheese and the last of the butter.
• Heat the cream, VERY GENTLY, until butter begins to appear.
• Immediately pour the cream over the potato layers. It should come up the side of the pan about halfway, add milk if needed.
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours until top is lightly browned.
• The cream should have absorbed into the potatoes, which should be tender, not mushy.
• Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes, loosely covered.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Melt 3 tbsp of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat; add shallots. Cook, stiffing frequently, 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and tender.
• Heat oven to 375°F; grease a 3-quart casserole with remaining 1 tbsp of the butter.
• Thinly slice peeled potatoes.
• Place potatoes in a large bowl with shallots, thyme, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Place potatoes in casserole.
• Heat cream in small saucepan until it just comes to a simmer. Pour hot cream over potato mixture. Bake 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle cheese over top and bake 20 more minutes or until potatoes are fork tender and top of casserole is brown and crusty.