When the menu calls for warm and cozy comfort food that's just a little different, try this roasted garlic and herb potato gratin recipe. Just a shade off of the traditional potato gratin, this casserole showcases surprisingly mellow roasted garlic, an herb-laced cream sauce, and Gouda cheese. This herbed potato gratin goes well with roast chicken or beef dishes and is a must-have accompaniment for big, family meals.
Cook's note: This recipe calls for young Gouda cheese. Young Gouda can be easily identified by looking for a red or yellow wax wrapping. Aged Gouda, slighter bitter and stronger tasting, comes wrapped in black wax.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 heads of garlic, cloves pulled apart, but not peeled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups crème fraiche (substitute sour cream)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 3/4 teaspoon dried sage
- 3/4 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 10 ounces grated young Gouda cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices
Preparation:
How to make roasted garlic and herb potato gratin:
Preheat the oven to 375F. Place the garlic cloves in a small, ovenproof pan and drizzle them with the olive oil. Roast the garlic in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, for 35 to 45 minutes, until it is tender. Allow the garlic to cool for 10 minutes and then squeeze out the roasted garlic into a clean, medium-sized bowl.
Mash the garlic with a fork until it's a smooth paste. Stir the crème fraiche, heavy cream, milk, salt, rosemary, sage, thyme, and ground black pepper until the mixture is smooth. Stir the grated Gouda cheese into the herbed cream mixture.
Lower the oven heat to 350F. Butter a large baking dish and spread 2/3 cup of the herbed cream into the bottom of the dish. Layer half of the potatoes into the dish, and spread half of the remaining herbed cream onto the potatoes, and repeat the same process one more time. Press down on the top layer of potatoes, cover the pan with foil or a lid, and bake the gratin for 90 minutes. Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
This roasted garlic and herb potato gratin recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.
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