Au Gratin Potatoes
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Baking time: 1½ hours
Ingredients
Potatoes:
- 2 pounds red or gold potatoes, sliced into very thin rounds (about 6 medium potatoes)
- Salt for seasoning the potatoes
Onion:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- ¼ butter (½ stick)
Dry Ingredients For Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Dash of cayenne pepper
Milk for Sauce:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup buttermilk
Cheese For Sauce:
- 1½ cups grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese
Topping:
- ½ cup grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup fine dry bread crumbs
Ingredients
(serves 4)
Section
Instructions
-
If baking for 1½ hours, preheat oven to 325° (see comment section below).
- If baking for 1 hour, preheat oven to 375° (see comment section below).
- Scrub potatoes and remove any blemishes.
- I leave the peels on, but you can peel if you prefer.
- Slice the potatoes into very thin rounds (⅛-inch or less).
- Place potatoes in layers in an ungreased 13x9x2 rectangular pan, or 3-quart casserole dish; sprinkling each layer with a dash of salt as you go.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour and seasonings; set aside.
- Grate the cheese placing 1½ cups in one bowl and ½ cup in another bowl; set bowls of cheese aside.
- Melt butter on medium-low heat in a shallow skillet.
- Add chopped onion to butter and cook until tender; about 5 minutes.
- Stir the seasoning mixture into the onion and butter mixture.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly.
- Whisk in milk and buttermilk, heat to a simmer, whisking constantly for 1 minute or until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Remove from heat.
- Add 1½ cups of cheese to the skillet; whisking until incorporated.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes.
- Bake for 1½ hours at the 325° setting. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup grated cheese and the bread crumbs over the top of the casserole 15 minutes before the casserole is done baking. Bake for the remaining 15 minutes until the top is brown and bubbly.
- Bake for 1 hour at the 375° setting. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup grated cheese and the bread crumbs over the top of the casserole 15 minutes before the casserole is done baking. Bake for the remaining 15 minutes until the top is brown and bubbly.
- Serve.
Comments
Note the 2 different baking times and temperatures above. If you are baking another dish in the oven at the same time choose the option that best matches the temperature and baking time required for that dish. If you are only baking the au gratin potatoes choose the option that works best with your schedule.