Potato Gratin German Kartoffelgratin Recipes

Steps:

• For this amount of gratin, a 9 inch by 13 inch, buttered pan is a good choice. Peel the potatoes and slice by hand 1/8 inch thick. Do not do this in the food processor, since they slice too thin.
• Line up the potatoes in rows across the back of the pan. Alternate slices from different potatoes in the same row, and make sure each slice has been separated from its sister slice (make sure all slices have broken contact with each other, otherwise they cannot absorb the cream). See image.
• When the pan is getting full, you can push the rows back to a vertical position and fit more potatoes into the pan.
• Fill the pan one half to two thirds with cream, pouring over the potatoes. Salt (I start with one teaspoon) and pepper. You might want to sprinkle a little marjoram on it, fresh or dried, too.
• Bake in a heated oven (375°F) for one hour, then sprinkle the cheese on top and bake until the potatoes are very tender when poked with a fork.
• Notes: The baking time varies with the type of potato, elevation where you live and how hot your oven really is. It has always taken about 90 minutes for me, yet so many cookbooks say 45 minutes, it burns me up.
• This is not a low-fat food, but it does not work very well with milk, so maybe you will make it once or twice a year as a special treat. You may also leave off the cheese, if you want.
• You may cover the casserole with foil in the middle of baking time if it is becoming too brown. Remove it before you add the cheese.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the cream and milk to a large saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the nutmeg, a big pinch of salt and some pepper. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes on a mandoline to 1/8-inch thick. Place the potatoes in the warm cream mixture and simmer gently until the potatoes are two-thirds of the way cooked and the cream has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Place a 9-by-12-inch flameproof gratin dish on the stove over low heat. Brush the bottom and the sides with the melted butter. Spread the garlic around the bottom of the dish. Cook just long enough to toast the garlic in the butter, 3 to 4 minutes. Add a layer of the potato mixture. Combine the Gruyere and Parmesan in a bowl, then sprinkle a third of the cheese over the potatoes. Repeat the layering 2 more times, finishing with the remaining cheese. Pick the thyme leaves and sprinkle over the top, mixing with last layer of cheese. Place the gratin dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbly and golden, 45 to 50 minutes (see Cook's Note).