The Ultimate Makeover Potato Dauphinoise Food

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: POTATO DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Brush the oil over the bottom and sides of a 25 x 19 x 5cm ovenproof dish. Put the milk, garlic, 4 thyme sprigs, bay leaf and shallot into a saucepan. Bring just to the boil, then remove from the heat and add the nutmeg and a little pepper. Set aside to infuse.
• Peel then slice the potatoes very thinly. Pat them dry. Layer half the slices in the dish, overlapping slightly, then season.
• Strain the infused milk into a jug. Put the crème fraîche into a bowl, then gradually pour in the milk, whisking until smooth. Add the stock and thyme leaves. Return this liquid to the jug, then pour half of it over the potatoes in the dish. Layer up the rest of the potatoes, then add remaining liquid, the cheese and a grind of pepper. Sit the dish on a baking sheet and bake for 1¼-1½ hrs until golden and tender - test by inserting a sharp knife through the potatoes. Stand for 5 mins before serving, sprinkled with thyme sprigs.

DAUPHINOISE POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5.
• Tip 500ml double cream, 500ml milk and 3 garlic cloves into a large saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Slice 8 large potatoes very finely, about 3-4mm, add them to the cream and simmer for 3 mins until just cooked.
• Gently stir to separate the potato and stop it sinking and catching on the bottom of the pan.
• Remove the potatoes with a slotted spoon and place in a wide shallow ovenproof dish so that they are about 5cm in depth.
• Pour over the garlic infused cream (discarding the garlic) - just enough to seep through the layers and leave a little moisture on the surface.
• Scatter over 100g grated gruyère cheese, if using, then bake for 30 mins until the potatoes are soft and browned - increase the heat for 5 mins if not brown enough.

POTATOES DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Variation: This recipe also works well with orange sweet potato (kumera).
• If using sweet potato, try substituting the nutmeg with a generous sprinkling of caraway seeds over each layer.
• Yum!
• Grease a 6 cup capacity ovenproof dish generously with the butter or margarine then smear the garlic around the bottom and sides of the dish.
• (I use a round glass pyrex dish.) Peel potatoes and slice thinly into rounds.
• (I use the slicing blade of my food processor).
• Line the bottom of the dish with a single layer of overlapping potato slices.
• Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Repeat this layering and sprinkling process until you have used all of the potato slices.
• In a large jug, combine cream and milk and stir well.
• Pour this mixture over the potato slices, gently easing the potato away from the sides of the dish to allow the liquid to penetrate evenly.
• Place the dish onto a microwave safe plate and cook, uncovered, in a microwave on MEDIUM HIGH for 15- 20 minutes.
• Check occasionally.
• If the liquid in the potatoes boils over, simply pour it from the plate back into the dish and continue cooking.
• Microwave just until you can push the blade of a sharp knife through the potato layers without feeling any crunchy resistance.
• Having reached this stage you can go on to cook the dish in the oven or cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for several hours or more before cooking.
• Pre-set your oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Sprinkle the top of the potatoes with the grated cheese and place the dish on an upper shelf in the oven for 20 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.
• (This may take slightly longer if taking the dish straight from the refrigerator.) To serve, cut into wedges and remove each wedge carefully with a spatula.

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.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: POTATO DAUPHINOISE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Brush the oil over the bottom and sides of a 25 x 19 x 5cm ovenproof dish. Put the milk, garlic, 4 thyme sprigs, bay leaf and shallot into a saucepan. Bring just to the boil, then remove from the heat and add the nutmeg and a little pepper. Set aside to infuse.
• Peel then slice the potatoes very thinly. Pat them dry. Layer half the slices in the dish, overlapping slightly, then season.
• Strain the infused milk into a jug. Put the crème fraîche into a bowl, then gradually pour in the milk, whisking until smooth. Add the stock and thyme leaves. Return this liquid to the jug, then pour half of it over the potatoes in the dish. Layer up the rest of the potatoes, then add remaining liquid, the cheese and a grind of pepper. Sit the dish on a baking sheet and bake for 1¼-1½ hrs until golden and tender - test by inserting a sharp knife through the potatoes. Stand for 5 mins before serving, sprinkled with thyme sprigs.