Scalloped Potatoes (Patates au Gratin)
Gratineed potatoes are a very common side dish in Greece, as they are here. Nobody really thinks of them as “French,” even if they use the French word “Gratin.” But of course they are French, and I use the recipe given by Julia Child in “Julia and Jacques: Cooking at Home.”
This is really a very simple dish of sliced potatoes cooked in milk, with a bit of salt, pepper, and garlic for flavor. The starch from the potatoes thickens the milk to make a rich, creamy sauce. It is cooked first on the stove top to heat the milk and begin the thickening process, then finished in the oven, where the potatoes become tender and the surface browns.
Scalloped potatoes are an easy dish for entertaining, because you can make them a few hours or even a day ahead of time. They taste great either reheated or served at room temperature.
Cookware considerations: Because this dish needs to cook on both the stove top and in the oven, a shallow flame-proof dish is ideal. I have a nifty ceramic pot that my sister brought me from China that can go from the stove top to the oven and is also attractive for serving. I’ve also used my 5 quart dutch oven – it’s deeper than necessary, but works fine. Before I had these, I used to start the milk-and-potatoes in a large pot on the stove, and then dump them into an 8 X 8 pyrex baking dish. This method works great too, it’s just that you have one more pot to wash. Whichever method you use, if your baking dish is so shallow that the liquid might bubble over, put a cookie sheet underneath it to save yourself a mess in the oven.
Here is Julia Child’s recipe, very slightly adapted by me:
1 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, minced, pressed or grated on rasp grater
3 cups milk, or milk mixed with cream according to your heart’s desire
1/2 tsp white pepper
2 lb yukon gold potatoes, or other boiling potatoes such as white or red potatoes (preferably not Idaho russet potatoes as they’ll tend to fall apart)
optional: a handful of grated cheese
1. Peel the potatoes and put them in a bowl of water.
2. In a pot large enough to hold the milk and the potatoes, put the milk, salt, pepper, and garlic.
3. Slice the potatoes very thinly – 1/8 inch or less. Use your food processor if you have one!!! Put the sliced potatoes into the milk right away.
THIS IS THE KEY TO THIS RECIPE: ONCE THE POTATOES ARE SLICED, NEITHER RINSE THEM NOR PUT THEM IN WATER! THEY GO DIRECTLY INTO THE MILK MIXTURE IN THE POT!!!
Okay, I’ll quit shouting. 
Scalloped potatoes do not need flour because the potato starch thickens the dish. The reason the potatoes need to be sliced so thinly is to expose as much starch as possible, and you do not want to wash that starch off.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
5. Bring the milk and potatoes to a slow boil over medium high heat on your stovetop and cook for a few minutes to start the sauce thickening. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot occasionally to prevent sticking or burning. A thick-bottomed pot will help here. If your pot has a thin bottom, use lower heat and stir/scrape a lot.
6. If you’ve used stove-top-to-oven cookware, just put it in the oven now. If not, dump the food from your pot into your baking dish, push down any slices that are sticking out of the milk, and put it in the oven. But read #7 before you actually put it in, because you have a decision to make.
7. For the Greek version of this dish, top with a handful of grated kefalotiri, which is similar to Parmesan. Or you could top with any grated cheese you like. You don’t really need to use a cheese topping, because the gratin will brown nicely without it, especially if you’ve used some cream in with the milk. When I make extra-creamy versions for company, I never add cheese. On the other hand, if you’ve used low-fat or skim milk, and no cream, you might need some cheese on top to enhance browning, or you can dot the top with butter for the same purpose.
8. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. The top should be nice and brown, and the potatoes should be tender. I take them out after 40 minutes and they’re always fine, so don’t sweat it. Oh yes, ideally the potatoes will have “drunk” (i.e., absorbed) most of the liquid, but again, don’t worry, any liquid remaining will be thick, creamy and delicious.
Comment by Olga
Excellent recipe! A+
Comment by Lulu
Thanks, Olga!
Comment by nancy
I love the ay you ewplain hy each step is important and the reason for it. they turned out ewtremely ell ,just like my mom’s ut in my on kitchen and my o n pots and pans. so thank you . very much.
Nancy
ps . I am sorry my key oard ont type doudle u’s or d’s turned around, or ekses.
Comment by Dave
Awesome recipe! I used russet potatoes and they didn’t fall apart. Half heavy cream and half milk and grated parmigiano reggiano. Also fried some onion slices in butter before adding the cream to the pot. Worked great in my All Clad stainless steel soup ramekin. Thanks for the step by step guide – no other recipe explained the importance of harnessing the potato starch.
Comment by shawna
omg… seriously the best potatoes ever! and soo easy!
Comment by Christiana
Sounds delicious but I have some questions. Do I need to cover the potatoes with foil when putting them in the oven and at what temperature shall I put the oven on? Looking forward to cooking this
Comment by Dave
Was looking for a nice spud resipe to cook in the restaurant i work in. whent down a treat. perfect with chicken stuffed with mushrooms.
Comment by cuppycake
@Christina, please read instruction number 4
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
very delicious recipe from Lulu…5 stars
Comment by marilyn
whats the answer to Christiana’s question?
id like to fix this for Easter.
Thank you.
Comment by Helen
Hi, great recipe and explanations, thanks! But like Christiana and Marilyn, I’d like to know if I should be covering the dutch oven (oven-proof pot) with its lid or with tin foil, or leave it uncovered. I’ve tried it twice and both times the top didn’t brown – is this because I left the lid on?
Comment by Greg
If you want it to brown, do not cover.
You can regulate the browning by how long it is uncovered. if you want it less brown cover for a little whe and the. Uncover. uncover at the end, as covering keeps moisture in, so the crispyness will be lost.
Comment by Wendee
I made this recipe for Easter and it was a huge hit! Possibly the best scalloped potatoes I’ve ever had. I used 1/2 & 1/2 for the milk/cream, and threw on a handful of freshly grated Parmagiani Reggiano and Parmesan. I also just used a 1/2 tsp of garlic powder in lieu of the fresh garlic. I baked it for about 50 minutes, uncovered. It was perfect! Thank you for the detailed instructions, including the “why’s” of the steps!
Comment by Stephanie
These are so delicious and I might mention GLUTEN FREE for my 13 year old daughter with no flour! Love them! Have made several times. Thank you!
Comment by Bette Ferguson
Made this recipe for a dinner party last night and it was the hit of the night, many compliments and requests for the recipe. Together with lamb chops and string beans, the potatoes made my meal scrumptious
Comment by Rachel
You said to put the sliced potatoes in water, then you said not to. I asdume no water bath, bit it’s a little confusing.
Comment by Merci
Those potatos au gratin as you indicate are the best ever. Thank tou for sharing
Comment by Merci
just finished making them. The milk was dried out. Othersiwe delicious. Thank you for sharing !
Comment by Tiff's Twisted Kitchen
Never doubt Julia! Served this at mom’s Easter Fest and it was a “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” or in this case Honey Baked Ham. So my improves were.,,,. approx. 3lbs. of Klondike Rose potatoes cut on 2mm food processor blade, buttered the 9×13 stoneware, ingredients & lilsuch were increased to 1.5 x on season & liquid, used a ratio of 1/2 Heavy Cream & 1/2 Whole Milk. I sautéed half of a large minced onion that I added to the pot if cream/milk. Topped with generous handful plus of freshly shredded Parsan & Pecorino Romano & Triple Cheddar mix. Only problems ( and I knew better) were with the cheese browning way early so ended up lightly covering with foil & evemtually backing temp down to 375 for the last 20mins of 50mins. So next time add cheese last 15/20 mins. These potatoes were the easiest, lightest regardless of Heavy Cream, most frugal, and tastiest I’ve ever had the pleasure of creating ?
Comment by Jacqui Williams
Many years ago I made potatoes much like these along with a goose for Christmas dinner. I had used the recipe for years, but in my many moves I had lost it, one thing and another and I just had not looked for it. Today, however, with no more food purchases allowed before the third of the month and it being only the 24th, I needed something to feel my family. I try to stay stocked on the basics. I can, pickle, etc. from our garden.
I had potatoes, garlic, milk from the goats, salt and pepper. I also have some cheese. I went on the internet and after looking at a number of recipes I found this one. It is almost exactly the one I had, the only exception is that the one I remember had a bay leaf. So I peeled potatoes, turned on the slicer, my son got the milk and seasonings in the pot and away we went. Goat milk does not have as much fat as dairy milk, so I am adding the cheese I have on hand. Some Asiago, some Dublin white cheddar, along with some Queso Fresco. It smells wonderful. I cheated at took a little bite a few moments ago. Everything is almost done and the potatoes are better than I remember.
I am adding some fresh zucchini, cooked with fresh tomatoes, and onions and we have a wonderful Sunday dinner.