SCALLOPED POTATOES RECIPE

      SCALLOPED POTATOES RECIPE

Scalloped Potatoes are a perfect holiday side dish. Easy to prepare for small gatherings but can also be doubled for larger parties. Perfect with beef, pork or chicken! This recipe will serve 6.

Raise your hand if you love scalloped potatoes?! Me: holds up both hands

There’s something so magical about these potatoes. Thinly sliced, peeled potatoes in a cheesy cream sauce. Gah! What’s not to love here? 

I could easily make a meal out of them. Scoop them into a bowl and good night! Code: 1

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCALLOPED POTATOES AND POTATOES AU GRATIN?

Good question! From the research I’ve done, the only difference is that with scalloped potatoes, the cheese is mixed into the sauce. 

Whereas with potatoes au gratin, the potatoes are topped with the sauce and layered with cheese. I also read that for au gratin the potatoes are sliced thinner than scalloped potatoes.

TO MAKE THESE SCALLOPED POTATOES YOU WILL NEED:

• potatoes
• unsalted butter
• fresh thyme
• unbleached all-purpose flour
• whole milk
• low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• nutmeg
• cayenne
• extra-sharp cheddar chees.

Start by peeling and thinly slicing 2 pounds potatoes. For me that was 2 large russets. To keep them from oxidizing and turning color, cover with cool water. Before assembling the casserole, you will want to drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with paper towel.

Next, in a 10-inch skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter with 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves.

Note: some recipes call for onion. You can adapt this recipe, by sautéing the onion in a little olive oil before melting the butter and adding thyme.

Once melted, sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of flour, stir until combined and cook for 2 minutes.

While stirring, pour in 1 cup whole milk and a 1/2 cup of low-sodium chicken broth.

Reduce the heat to low and stir until the sauce has thickened slightly.

Remove the skillet off of the heat and season the sauce with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of both cayenne and ground nutmeg. Stirring to combine.

Lastly, stir in 1-1/4 cups of extra-sharp cheddar cheese, until smooth.

Preheat your oven to 350° and lightly spray a 8×8 or 9×9 casserole with olive oil spray. Arrange half of the sliced potatoes into the bottom of the dish.

Pour half of the cheese sauce over top. Use the back of your spoon to spread it evenly over the potatoes.

Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cheese sauce. Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil and bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes.

SMELLS SO GOOD!

Pro tip: I also broiler it for a few minutes just to get a crispier and more golden brown top. Just watch carefully to avoid burning.

So simple and incredibly delicious! And goes wonderfully with ham, prime rib, chicken or turkey.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds russet potatoes
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced onion (*optional - see notes)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• a pinch of cayenne
• a pinch of nutmeg
• 1-1/4 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lightly spray a 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan and preheat your oven to 350°.
2. Thinly slice 2 pounds peeled potatoes. To keep from oxidizing, soak in cool water.
3. In a 10-inch skillet, melt the butter with the thyme. Sprinkle in the flour, stir and cook 2 minutes.
4. Pour in the milk and broth, stir and simmer on medium-low until slightly thickened. Remove off of the heat and stir in the salt, pepper, cayenne and nutmeg. Stir in the cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
5. Layer half of the potatoes in the prepared pan and pour half of the cheese sauce. Use the back of your spoon to smoothe the sauce over the potatoes. Repeat with the remaining potatoes and sauce.
6. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
7. For an extra crispy topping, turn on the broiler. Watch carefully to avoid burning.