Potato Leek Gratin Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

JMR

I've found the easiest way to clean leeks is to slice of roots end, split them down the middle, stand in a tall jug, run water over them til jug is full and water looks clear. Allow to stand in the water and any dirt usually sinks to the bottom of the jug.

Tessa

I make this in layers -- half the potatoes, leeks, half the Gruyere, potatoes, pour cream, then the rest of the Gruyere. This is a very good dish!

Bohemian

One clove of garlic? As Lynne Rossetto Kasper would say, "Why bother"? I'd up it to 4-6 cloves. Richard Olney, in recipes such as Gratin Dauphinois, would also use a cut clove of garlic when he started the recipe to rub down the interior of the gratin dish, and then let it dry there as he continued on.

Terri

Smelled delicious in the oven. Looked less than delicious coming out. Love at first bite. I used a truly fat clove of a garlic, and I regret nothing.

Marty O'C.

Obvious first adjustment is to triple the garlic. Better if you use the 3 leeks that are normally bundled so at the market. Fresh thyme: inconvenient and can overpower. Use a dash of dried oregano and rosemary instead so the taste of leeks is more face forward. Double the shredded gruyere topping and finish at 400-425 for a crisper brown crust, ease in cutting, and the serving of tight, coherent portions, Layering the Gruyere amidst the potatoes can result in a runnier dish needing a soup spoon

Becky Swaffield

I have made this with chicken broth instead of cream. It's delicious and less rich. I also add parsley, but then I add it to everything.

Etta Abrahams

At the risk of being voted off the island (Manhattan Island, that is) I confess that, out of gruyere and 20 miles from the nearest civilized supermarket, I used cheddar, and it was wonderful. I kept the leeks on top, as the recipe called for, omitted the nutmeg because it's really not suited to cheddar, and used half and half instead of whipping cream--and 3 fat garlic cloves. Fantastic both in looks and flavor--the leeks were positively creamy, the sliced potatoes a slightly firm surprise.

Elizabeth

I cooked it as stated a day ahead of the dinner party, it was refrigerated overnight and then warmed as the rack of lamb cooked at 400-450, for 20 minutes. It was fabulous with each person wanting the recipe.

Miriam R.

Like Tessa, I baked this as a layered dish. I doubled the recipe so the layers were nicely defined. I love leeks and used 3 lg leeks rather than two per recipe. I also increased the amount of cream by half, and the amt of butter by half for each recipe. It is an excellent recipe, although it would be too time labor intensive without the use of a mandoline. (I use a handheld one that cost very little but works wonders in prepping a dish such as this one.)

Patricia

If you divide this dish into 8 servings, there would be 285 cal, 8.8 gm protein, 16.8 gm carbs, 1.4 gm dietary fiber and 20.8 gm fat per serving. This is, therefore, one serving of carbohydrates for a diabetic.

It would be REALLY helpful if this food section includes the nutrients , as a guide to healthy eating. There are MANY diabetics. Others watch their caloric intake, total fat consumption, gluten content, etc. Not everyone has the time to sit and calculate the nutrients for each recipe.

Kara C

Hands down best gratin I’ve had. Made for a dinner party to rave reviews. None of the issues of other recipes (too runny, too bland, etc.). Used 2 lbs Yukon, 3 garlic cloves, 3 leeks and a handful more of gruyere. Everything else according to recipe. Cooked first segment day ahead then refrigerated and finished next day uncovered with the roast. Very forgiving recipe—you can’t go wrong.

Cathy

Add additional leek/Triple the Garlic. Start with leeks - longer saute to golden. Layer the Potatoes/Leek/Cheese. Prep is at least an hour. Bake first segment of 40 min the day or morning before, to simplify cooking for the main meal.

VinXpert

Step 1 states to thinly slice the washed and halved leeks crosswise. You'll end up with thin half moon slices.

Ellen

Excellent! Didn't peel potatoes and needed about 20-30 minutes baking time so that potatoes were done. This is a winner.

Bear

To get the true golden color for the leeks, I sautéed them for another 10-15 minutes. So to keep things on schedule, I recommend starting with the leek sautéing and then do the potato slicing and layering while the leeks are still warming up.

Dessy

Made this last night for my hubby's bday. Doubled recipe, we had 12 people.Stupendous!!Served it with Beef Wellington. Great success!! thank you

JoJo

Excellent! Didn't peel the potatoes, used 1/2 and 1/2 rather than cream, and used pancetta instead of butter...everything is better with pancetta. Easy and absolutely perfection of flavors.

BFF

If you like potato slices of varying thickness, cut by hand.

Tim

This dish is a hit with my friends, and I love it as well. It's quite rich, so I'll reserve the recipe for gatherings and special occasions.

Jennifer A.

Increase garlic to 3-4 cloves

Pamela Breckenridge

Now I know how to use up those leeks and potatoes! What an amazing winter warmer! So easy to make and so tasty. Great on its own or with other dishes. I wouldn't change the ingredients or the cooking instructions in any way.

Kathleen

Made as directed other than more garlic, and half stock/cream. High caloric deliciousness, as expected. I found the leeks to be too gloppy on top. Next time I will put some in with potatoes and leave some on top as directed. Bake without the cheese, uncover after 20-25 min, to try to crisp up the top a little , bake another 10 or so. then melt the cheese on in the last 10 min

Mahalo

This was with out a shadow of a doubt an excellent choice. I listened to the comments and put more garlic in between the layers of potatoes. Also took the leeks and spread them through the many layers of cheesy potato goodness. Shared it with some seasoned Foodie friends and posted it on my social media account. Requests for the recipe came from family and friends across the country.

potato leek gratin

Cook 15 minutes longer

Jayne M. Weiske

Layered potatoes, leeks and cheeseDoubled the leeks and sauced until almost caramelized Increased cheese significantly- at least doubleFinished the dish at 425 for 15-20 min for a crisp browned top

David

This was excellent. It’s perplexing though, how the author thinks leeks can be rendered tender and golden in 5 minutes. It takes a good 20 minutes, and that’s on a medium flame. I used about 1.5c shredded Gruyere, and it would have benefited from even more. I would also add an extra 0.5c of cream; 1c isn’t enough to seep through the leeks into the potatoes. Alternating multiple layers of potatoes and leeks would make this even better (the potatoes are a bit isolated). Cooking time is spot on.

Lauren

Is this just as good if I make a day ahead? Looking to prep this today to lessen my load tomorrow!

Pamela Breckenridge

Yes, it keeps very well in the fridge for a few days and can easily be warmed through in the oven or a microwave.

Ann F

I doubled the recipe and the potatoes came out crunchy. Next time I’ll increase the cooking time significantly - like, to 90 minutes. I think if it’s covered for most of the cooking time it will not overcook.

JamieSF

I have made scalloped potatoes layering cheeses and béchamel sauce. I didn't think it would be all that different from making this so I did layer in the cheese and cream at each layer because this method had been successful in past:the gratin did come out really soupy, did not hold a form: it looked terrible! I parcooked it the day before for 40 minutes and then refrigerated to finish cooking next day for another 40 minutes: not cooked through- awful. Follow recipe & don't parcook.

Marina

This is AMAZING! My family are big foodies, and the dish was the talk of the night. I used the combined advice of increasing the heat to 425 the last 20 minutes, using 2 lb of potatos (to be a little less soupy) and maybe a handful more of cheese, and it was perfection.

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Potato Leek Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my potato gratin runny? ›

Try checking your oven temperature. If it reads too low that would do it. Try using russets. Some potatoes, like Yukon Gold, have more water in them.

What is the cooking technique of gratin? ›

Derived from the French verb gratiner — to broil — gratin is a process that involves topping a dish with either cheese or buttery breadcrumbs and baking or broiling until crispy. While potatoes au gratin is most traditional, the contents beneath the golden crust can vary widely.

Which is better scalloped or au gratin? ›

Scalloped potatoes also won't be as crispy in texture as au gratin. Both are golden brown and creamy, but if it's crispiness and crunchiness you're after, au gratin will probably be your best bet. Either one is sure to be a hit with your dinner guests, but it just depends on what sort of vibe you're going for!

What makes a gratin a gratin? ›

A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

How do you thicken runny gratin? ›

If you find yourself faced with a soupy pan of potatoes, shake a few tablespoons of flakes into the sauce and mix them around with a fork or a small whisk. The flakes will soak up the extra liquid in a flash, and you can keep adding them until the sauce is at the proper thickness.

How do you fix soupy scalloped potatoes? ›

Thankfully, there's a simple and effective solution to this problem: Use instant potato flakes. Instant potato flakes are an excellent thickening agent made from real potatoes that have been cooked, mashed, and then dried.

What is the difference between scalloped and gratin potatoes? ›

What is the difference between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy.

What is the difference between au gratin and gratin? ›

A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term “au gratin” or “gratinée” just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

What does gratin mean in French? ›

The phrase au gratin literally means "by grating" in French, or "with a crust," from the verb gratter, "to scrape, scratch, or grate."

What pan is best for au gratin potatoes? ›

I love cooking these potatoes in a cast-iron skillet because it gives the potatoes a nice crispy edge and it makes the perfect amount of potatoes.

What is the different name for potato gratin? ›

Potatoes gratiné

In the US, the dish is referred to variously as funeral potatoes, potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, or au gratin potatoes. In English Canada, it is called scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin.

What is a substitute for cream in gratin? ›

Fortunately, you can still make a delicious gratin dauphinoise without cream. Substitute fat-free or non-dairy milk, a small amount of light butter, and plenty of herbs and spices so you wind up with a tasty dish that you don't have to feel guilty about eating.

How deep is a gratin dish? ›

It can be round, oval or rectangular, and most commonly it is about an inch and a half deep.

Why did potatoes au gratin curdle? ›

But it can be frustrating when the creamy sauce and cheese separate or look curdled. The good news is that the dish tastes just fine, even when it looks a little strange. The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven.

Why won't my scalloped potatoes get soft? ›

Potatoes or rice can remain rock-hard after prolonged cooking. Starch will not swell if it is acidic. If you have a lot of sour cream in your scalloped potatoes or add something acidic, your potatoes may not soften. You can cook the potatoes with heavy cream or milk and then, after they soften, stir in sour cream.

How do you keep potatoes from getting watery? ›

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients. Steaming the potatoes instead of boiling them is a good way to ensure that excess moisture isn't trapped inside.

What causes watery potatoes? ›

Soil or dirt has a lot to do with the solids content of the harvested potato. Potatoes grown in clay or very dense soil have a tendency to not be able to get rid of the moisture versus potatoes grown in sandy soil or volcanic soil; which is what Idaho soil is.

Why is my baked potato watery? ›

As potatoes bake, their starch granules soften in the heat and absorb the surrounding moisture. As they increase in size and often burst, granular particles separate from one another, making the texture of the potato mealy and fluffy. However, if moisture is trapped inside the skin, it can make the potato quite soggy.

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