Quick Easy French Dauphinoise Potatoes Au Gratin

This French Potatoes Au Gratin recipe, also known as Dauphinois, is a cherished comfort food that brings the essence of French cuisine to your table. It's a creamy potato dish layered with tender potatoes and, if you like, topped with a golden, grilled Gruyère cheese. The beauty of this traditional recipe lies in its simplicity and quick preparation, utilizing a microwave to achieve that perfect creamy texture without the fuss.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Top tips
• How to serve it
• How to store it
• More easy side dishes recipes
• 📋Quick Easy French Potatoes Au Gratin (Dauphinois)

The simplicity of this traditional French side dish makes it an ideal choice for dinner parties, allowing you to devote more attention to the main course.

Its straightforward preparation ensures a delicious outcome without requiring extensive effort, making it a perfect complement to any main dish.

The method simplifies traditional preparation by cooking everything together in the gratin dish using a microwave, avoiding the usual step of boiling the potatoes in milk.

This approach results in less mess and effort, making it an ideal choice for a special meal or a festive addition to your holiday table.

Before serving, even if not a traditional gratin dauphinois, I like to add a generous topping of grilled nutty gruyère cheese

This delicious cheesy potato casserole that's sure to become one of your favorite meals.

Ideal for a special meal or as a staple on your holiday table, this dish embodies the comfort and tradition of classic French recipes.

For more easy side dishes recipe you can check: Microwave baked potatoes, Baked rice pilaf, Yorkshire pudding, Roasted potatoes, Easy Chanterelle Recipe With Potato

Ingredients

• Medium Potatoes: Choose starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes for their ability to absorb the creamy sauce and become tender while baking. Their texture contributes to the dish's overall creaminess and structure.
• Onion: Adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor, complementing the creamy texture of the potatoes.
• Fresh garlic cloves: Infuses the dish with a mild, aromatic flavor that enhances the savory notes of the gratin.
• Fresh thyme: Offers a slight lemony and minty flavor, adding a layer of complexity to the dish's overall taste profile.
• Minced Fresh Sage: Brings a slightly peppery flavor with hints of mint, elevating the earthy tones of the potatoes and cream.
• Whole milk: Provides the liquid base for the creamy sauce, allowing the potatoes to cook evenly without becoming too heavy.
• Crème fraiche: Adds richness and velvety texture to the dish, balancing the lightness of the milk with its luxurious mouthfeel.
• Nutmeg: A pinch of nutmeg adds warmth and a subtle spice, complementing the creamy elements and enhancing the gratin's comforting qualities.
• Salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning, they enhance the natural flavors of the other ingredients, bringing the dish to life.
• Optional Grated Gruyère Cheese: When used, it introduces a nutty and slightly sweet flavor, creating a golden, crispy top layer that contrasts beautifully with the soft, creamy potatoes beneath.

Find the measurements in the recipe card

Instructions

1. Peel and clean the potatoes and onion, then slice them into thin slices using a sharp knife or a food processor for best results.
2. Rub the inside of a shallow baking dish with the cut sides of a garlic clove and generously butter the bottom of the dish.
3. Arrange the sliced potatoes and onion in the dish, seasoning each layer with salt, pepper, sage, and thyme, and sprinkle with some cheese for added flavor.
4. Continue layering until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of potatoes on top for a golden brown finish.
5. Gently pour the milk and cream sauce, infused with a hint of nutmeg, over the potato mixture, ensuring it seeps into every layer.

6. Place the dish in the microwave and cook on high for 15 minutes. After cooking, let it stand at room temperature inside the microwave for an additional 5 minutes to settle.
7. Just before serving, top the gratin with the remaining Gruyère cheese, spreading it in an even layer for a cheesy, golden crust.

8. Grill in the oven until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown, then serve the Gratin Dauphinoise hot as a perfect side dish to complement your main course.

Top tips

• Cut the onions and the potatoes into thin slices, best with an electric vegetable slicer
• Use precisely the amount of milk and cream from the recipe
• Cook in the microwave at the highest level for exactly 15 minutes
• Put a baking tray under the gratin to collect any possible spill of cream and milk

How to serve it

With its creamy layers and golden brown top, this French gratin potatoes dish is best served hot, straight from the oven, to enjoy its rich flavors and comforting warmth fully.

Its ease of preparation makes it ideal, allowing you to focus on crafting a more elaborate main dish for your dinner party.

Consider pairing this gratin with robust mains like Pork Stew with Apples or Magret de Canard for a truly memorable meal.

Alternatively, a stuffed pork tenderloin with chestnuts and cranberries can add a festive touch to your table.

These main dishes, with their complex flavors and textures, complement the creamy simplicity of the gratin, making for a well-rounded dining experience.

Whether it's a special occasion or a gathering with your entire family, this traditional French dish promises to be the perfect side, elevating your next dinner party with its classic charm and delicious taste.

How to store it

For storing leftovers of this traditional French gratin, let the dish cool down before covering it with plastic wrap or transferring it to an airtight container.

This will help maintain its creamy texture and prevent it from drying out.

You can refrigerate the gratin for up to three days, ensuring it remains a delightful option for future meals.

When you're ready to enjoy the gratin again, reheat it in a preheated oven until it's thoroughly warmed through.

This method helps restore the dish's original texture and flavor, making it just as satisfying as when it was first served.

For best results, consider adding a splash of milk or cream before reheating to keep the potatoes moist and creamy.

These simple storing suggestions ensure that your au gratin potatoes remain a delicious and convenient choice, ready to complement your next meal or serve as a quick and satisfying dish for the entire family.

More easy side dishes recipes

If you are making this Quick Easy Dauphinoise Potatoes au Gratin , leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.