Creamy Potato Gratin From Gilroy Garlic Festival Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a small pan filled with water, parboil the garlic cloves, until tender, about 8 minutes. Place cloves and Marsala wine in blender and puree until smooth. Combine with cream and set aside.
• Lightly grease an oval au gratin dish or rectangular oven-proof dish and arrange 1/3 of each of the potatoes and the pears. Dot potatoes with 1/3 of the cheese and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Top with 1/3 cup of pecans and 1 teaspoons of the rosemary. Repeat this layering 2 more times.
• Pour the garlic cream mixture over the top of the potato layers and bake, covered with foil, for 25 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake another 20-35 minutes longer or until almost all of the cream mixture is absorbed and the potatoes are tender.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Use a mandolin, food processor or knife to slice potatoes moderately thin (the thickness of two pennies is perfect). Place in a 3-quart saucepan and add 3 cups half-and-half. The cream should barely cover the potatoes. Add a little more if needed. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, butter a 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Dust dish with 2 1/2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Season potatoes by folding in salt (at least a teaspoon), pepper and nutmeg. Do not undersalt. Transfer potato mixture to the baking dish and dust top with remaining 1/2 tablespoon bread crumbs.
• Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving. The gratin can be reheated, but if that's your plan, bake it for 20 minutes, leave it at room temperature and reheat it for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Up to 2 days before serving, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and thyme, cover, and cook over a gentle heat for 10-15 mins until softened and caramelised. Pour the cream and milk into a large bowl and season well. Add the potatoes and mix to combine.
• Butter a 23 x 28cm ovenproof dish, then layer in half the potatoes. Spread the onion mixture on top, then layer on the remaining potatoes. Press down with your hands. Pour over the milk mixture, which should come just level with the potatoes. If not, add a little more milk until it does. Cover with foil, then bake for 11⁄2 hrs until tender. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Cover and store in the fridge.
• On the day, heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Uncover the gratin, spread the crème fraîche on top, then sprinkle over the Parmesan. Put in the oven and cook for 30 mins until the cheese is melted, the top crisp and golden brown, and the gratin piping hot. Serve garnished with extra thyme.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange half of potato slices in bottom of prepared dish, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Spread half of crème fraîche over potatoes and sprinkle with half of cheese. Top with remaining potatoes, overlapping slightly; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Spread with remaining crème fraîche; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake gratin uncovered 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Continue to bake gratin until potatoes are tender and top is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
• Available at some supermarkets. If unavailable, heat 1 1/2 cups whipping cream to lukewarm (85°F). Remove from heat and mix in 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Cover and let stand in warm draft-free area until slightly thickened, 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature of room. Chill until ready to use.