I believe no one dislikes potatoes. Whether it’s french fries, potato chips, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes, both kids and adults love them. Potatoes au gratin, as a versatile side dish, can be prepared anytime, regardless of the season or weather. However, it’s particularly suitable for winter, making it not only easy to prepare but also perfect for family gatherings. Whether it’s a party or a holiday dinner, it will be the most popular side dish on the table.
With a crispy cheese crust on top and soft, fragrant potatoes inside, it pairs well with steak or fried chicken. If you’re interested in this menu, come and join me in making it!
Equipment
Baking pan
Mandolin chef’s knife
What’s the Potatoes Au Gratin
This is a classic French dish, mainly made from sliced potatoes, cheese, and garlic. Besides the smooth and delicate texture of the potatoes, there is also a creamy flavor spreading on your taste buds. When you see the potatoes being cooked in milk and butter, you’ll understand why it’s filled with a creamy aroma.
Tips
Now, you need to cut the potatoes into uniformly sized slices to ensure a consistent overall flavor. I understand this step might be challenging for some kitchen beginners, so you can use kitchen tools like a mandolin, which makes it easy to slice or shred your potatoes or cheese.
It’s preferable to choose whole milk as it can make the overall dish more flavorful, with a richer creamy taste. Skim milk might have difficulty achieving the same effect.
You can select your preferred cheese, but we would recommend adding some Cheddar cheese because its taste is relatively prominent, enhancing the overall cheese flavor and adding more fragrance.
How to make Potatoes Au Gratin
Image From ambitiouskitchen.com
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spread butter evenly inside a baking pan.
Step 2
Wash and peel the potatoes. Use a mandolin to slice them, a grater for the cheese, and finely chop the garlic, leaving some texture. Slice the onion as well. Once everything is prepared, set it aside.
Step 3
In a saucepan, combine milk, salt, black pepper, and garlic. Heat the milk until it starts to bubble, then add the grated cheese and stir until the sauce becomes thick. Add the sliced potatoes and mix well.
Step 4
Layer the bottom of the baking pan with sliced onions. After thoroughly mixing the potatoes, pour them into the baking pan. Cover the potato slices if possible and pour any excess sauce on top. Sprinkle additional cheese on the sauce.
Step 5
Bake in the oven for one hour. Keep an eye on the color of the surface; when it turns brown, it’s done. Allow it to cool for a bit before serving to avoid burns.
This is a simple and delicious family side dish. In this delightful journey of potato goodness, may your taste buds revel in the tempting charm of aromatic baked potatoes. It’s not just a simple dinner; it’s a beautiful moment for family and friendship. As the enticing aroma of baked potatoes fills the kitchen, may you enjoy this delicious meal with loved ones, creating fond memories to adorn your dining moments.