Two-Potato Gratin Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Cyril Renaud

Adapted by Amanda Hesser

Two-Potato Gratin Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 40 minutes
Rating
4(458)
Notes
Read community notes

This simple recipe allows the richness of potatoes and cream to shine through unadorned, and it is easily assembled. A gratin dish is not necessary; try using a cast-iron skillet. (For everything you need to know to make perfect potatoes, visit our potato guide.) —Amanda Hesser

Featured in: Playing Fourth Potato and Getting Raves

Learn: How to Cook Potatoes

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • Unsalted butter for gratin dish
  • 3medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
  • 1tablespoon chopped thyme
  • ½teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • cups heavy cream
  • 2small sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

453 calories; 31 grams fat; 19 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 41 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 671 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Two-Potato Gratin Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Butter a medium gratin dish. Line bottom with a layer of Yukon Gold potatoes. Sprinkle with a little thyme and nutmeg. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and pour over a little cream. Add a layer of sweet potato slices, and repeat with the thyme, nutmeg, salt, pepper and cream. Continue layering, ending with sweet potatoes, thyme, nutmeg, salt, pepper and cream.

  2. Step

    2

    Bake in oven for 1 to 1¼ hours, until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Cover with aluminum foil if top gets too dark.

Ratings

4

out of 5

458

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

db cooper

I live in Southern California where the Yukon's sold are usually "small" and the sweet potatoes are usually quite large.

Wouldn't this recipe make a lot more sense if the produce measurements were in pounds, or cups?

Standard measurements are standard for a reason!

swelsh

This turned out very tasty, but I did alter it. I used 2 large Russets and 1 large sweet potato. Followed the layering instructions but did not add the cream between the layers as this recipe states. I sautéed an onion and then added 1.5 cups heavy cream with 1/2 cup whole milk to the sauté pan, scalded it, and then poured the cream/onion mixture over the top of the layers. Also added 1/4 cup of bread crumbs to the top (I used an oval Corning ware dish) and then cooked for 1 hour at 400 degrees.

dobes

I will try it soon, though I've often added sweet potatoes to such dishes. But - isn't it more an escalloped potato dish? I kept looking for the cheese!

Bobbi

I made this for a dinner party for 4 and it went over big. It looked beautiful in the cast iron pan, a big plus. It's nice to find a potato gratin recipe that is smaller than the usual 8 or more servings with the appropriately reduced pan size and cooking time.

shore cook

Making this tonight, I replaced half the cream with chicken stock. I also added some grated parmesan to each layer of potatoes, along with some grated shallots and grated garlic. Based on other comments, I baked this at a higher temp of 375 degrees. It was amazing! Definitely making this again. And again. And again.

Skbpdx

Yes. Absolutely. I wish the recipe editors would make this standard.

Frantzie Couch

Wrong recipe????

AlliMac

Absolutely scrumptious. We used the white sweet potatoes and they were just the right amount of sweet. Baked in a cast iron skillet. Would definitely make this again.

Gwen

Delish! Cooked at 375 for 1 hr. and used half cream half veggie stock as someone recommended! Also used dried thyme, but the fresh nutmeg and carmelized onions w/2 garlic. Perfect for 4 (w/enough for some to have 2nds).

Lew

Way too much cream, way too much thyme. Won’t make again.

Eudora

Followed others suggestions and used some veg broth and creamy oat milk instead of cream and was delicious. Also, did 400 degrees for one hour and covered with foil so it woiuldn't burn.

AlexK

This recipe lacks useful measurement. Small, medium, large are relative assessments. Even if I knew what you mean by small (no idea), does that mean I can't make this dish if there are no small sweet potatoes at the store? How big is a medium gratin dish? Or a skillet of unknown size. 300F is very low for this dish but maybe it would with very thin layers placed in a wide dish. Since we have no useful measurements, we'll never know.

leesat1

add gruyere cheese!

Beth Hill Bryant (Anchorage)

Did not have yukon gold but otherwise followed the directions. Easy to put together and ignore for the next 1.5 hours while I worked on other things. Very tasty and finished the left overs for lunch today.

Andrew

I tried making this, but even after an hour and a half at 300 it just was not cooking. I finally moved the temp up to 400, at which point it started to cook.

Bee

This potato gratin was amazing. In addition to following the recipe pretty much as is, I did add finely chopped shallots and fresh grated Parmesan cheese to the alternating layers of potatoes (along with a tad more cream). This gave the final dish a cheesy-juicy-creamy deliciousness.Also, it is just as good the next day for leftovers.

Lew

Way too much cream, way too much thyme. Won’t make again.

Beda

I've done this before, with the addition of gruyere and rosemary and it's delicious. I have one layer of sweet potatoes with about two or more layers of white potatoes.

mrs adamsmom

Perfect. But baked at 400, not 300. All other instructions accurate.

Gwen

Delish! Cooked at 375 for 1 hr. and used half cream half veggie stock as someone recommended! Also used dried thyme, but the fresh nutmeg and carmelized onions w/2 garlic. Perfect for 4 (w/enough for some to have 2nds).

Tim C

Put it in the oven with the Easter ham but even with extra time the potatoes didn't soften enough at that temperature. Overall, not as good as other oven potatoes.

nickipogue

First time making a gratin and highly recommend the cast-iron skillet technique. Per comment suggestions, I added minced shallots and a bit of parmesan to each of the layers. I might try garlic next time, too. Beautiful presentation - slightly crispy top, soft creamy layers beneath. My teenage boys went nuts.

Tim Owens

reduced cream by 1/3, added grated Gouda and diced Vidalia onion in each layer

RR

I have made one variation of this dish or another for years. Whatever potatoes you have, just make it work. Don't worry so much about how many or sizes. I usually add shallots or leeks or garlic or combo. If I don't have heavy cream, half and half or even milk and cheese. This is comfort food, delish and no stress!

n.b.

I think the cooking temperature may be wrong on this. The recipe says one to one and a quarter hours at 300.... but mine was still sort of raw after this time (certainly not in danger of being too browned as the recipe suggests). The one person who left a note and says it was tasty said they cooked it at 400 which makes more sense.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Two-Potato Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do you serve with potato gratin? ›

Au Gratin potatoes are rich. Serve them with leaner proteins such as beef tenderloin, grilled or roasted chicken, and pan-seared fish. Another excellent pairing for Au Gratin potatoes is a fresh salad with herbs and a tart vinaigrette. Au Gratin potatoes make a great casserole and are a great entrée themselves.

Which is better scalloped or au gratin? ›

Scalloped potatoes also won't be as crispy in texture as au gratin. Both are golden brown and creamy, but if it's crispiness and crunchiness you're after, au gratin will probably be your best bet. Either one is sure to be a hit with your dinner guests, but it just depends on what sort of vibe you're going for!

What is the cooking technique of gratin? ›

Derived from the French verb gratiner — to broil — gratin is a process that involves topping a dish with either cheese or buttery breadcrumbs and baking or broiling until crispy. While potatoes au gratin is most traditional, the contents beneath the golden crust can vary widely.

Why is my gratin runny? ›

Some potatoes, like Yukon Gold, have more water in them. Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer. Try uncovering the dish in the oven for the last 10 minutes or so.

What kind of meat goes good with scalloped potatoes? ›

Scalloped potatoes are rich and filling. Lean proteins and other veggies pair nicely, try grilled ham, pan-seared fish, roast chicken, broiled lobster, or even a filet of beef tenderloin. If no animal proteins are desired a lovely side salad with a sharp vinaigrette works great.

What is the difference between scalloped and gratin potatoes? ›

What is the difference between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy.

What pan is best for au gratin potatoes? ›

The vessel best suited for most au gratin dishes is, simply enough, an au gratin pan. It can be round, oval or rectangular, and most commonly it is about an inch and a half deep. The material can be copper, stainless steel, enameled iron, aluminum, glass.

Can you make au gratin potatoes ahead of time and reheat? ›

It is possible to pre-prepare the gratin up to 2 days ahead by simmering the potatoes and transferring them to the buttered baking dish, then refrigerating them until needed. You should cool and refrigerate the mixture as quickly as possible, and within 2 hours of cooking.

Why are my scalloped potatoes chewy? ›

Rinsing or soaking also makes potatoes more watery—and you don't want to add water to the creamy dish. Why are my scalloped potatoes chewy? If the potatoes aren't cooked properly, they will seem chewy and have an al dente texture.

Why did my potato gratin curdle? ›

But it can be frustrating when the creamy sauce and cheese separate or look curdled. The good news is that the dish tastes just fine, even when it looks a little strange. The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven.

Can I slice potatoes ahead of time for gratin? ›

If you're here, you'll probably be glad to know that yes, you can peel and cut potatoes the day before you plan to serve them — and that it's super easy! All you have to do is submerge the bare potato pieces in water and refrigerate (more on that later).

Can I slice potatoes for scalloped potatoes the day before? ›

If raw, once the potato is cut you can store in the refrigerator, covered with water for 12-24 hours. Be sure to keep submerged in water to prevent slices from turning gray or brown.

What is the one trick Michael Symon uses to make perfect scalloped potatoes? ›

Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.

Is gratin a main dish? ›

Gratin is usually made as a side dish however there are ways to make it as a main dish. Several of my vegetarian Gratin recipes (see below) are so filling that all you need is a salad on the side. Enjoy my favorite Gratin recipes round up and make sure to include them in your weeknight or holiday menu.

What to have with potato bake for dinner? ›

Steak: A juicy sirloin steak with some garlic butter is a one-of-a-kind classic pairing for Potato Bake as the steak flavors blend well with the creamy, cheesy elements of the Potato Bake. Giving you an indulging, satisfying meal. Ham: Holiday meals or special occasions always call for some Ham.

What is the difference between au gratin and gratin? ›

A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term “au gratin” or “gratinée” just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

What do you use an au gratin dish for? ›

The Au Gratin dish is typically used for making gratins, roasting, and baking.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5672

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.